Measure HG, if approved by a majority of Hawaiian Gardens voters, will add Chapter 3.22 to the Hawaiian Gardens Municipal Code and authorize a three-quarters percent (3/4%) retail transactions and use (sales) tax within the City of Hawaiian Gardens. A 3/4% rate equates to an extra 75¢ per $100 purchased. The tax would be paid in addition to current sales taxes and would be collected at the same time and in the same manner as existing sales taxes.
It is estimated that Measure HG will provide an additional $550,000 in annual local funding to be used for general City services, such as police and emergency response for public safety, senior services and after school programs, and maintaining parks, streets, and infrastructure. This tax would be a "general tax," meaning that revenues raised from the tax would go into the City's general fund to pay for any lawful City program, improvement, or service.
On November 19, 2019, the City Council unanimously voted to place Measure HG on the March 3, 2020 special municipal election ballot. California law authorizes the City to levy a general transactions and use (sales) tax at a rate of three-quarters percent (3/4%) so long as the ordinance imposing the general tax, after being placed on the ballot by the City Council, is approved by a majority of the voters voting in an election on that issue.
If approved, the tax would become operative on October 1, 2020 and would remain in effect until it is ended by Hawaiian Gardens voters voting at a subsequent election. All revenues raised by the tax would remain in the City and would not be shared with the State, County, or any other agency. Measure HG also requires annual independent audits to verify that tax revenues are collected, managed, and expended in accordance with its terms.
A "yes" vote on Measure HG will authorize the three-quarters percent (3/4%) transactions and use (sales) tax.
A "no" vote on Measure HG will not authorize the three-quarters percent (3/4%) transactions and use (sales) tax.
