Contra Costa Taxpayers Association

November 5^th 2024 Statewide Ballot Measures

Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
2	Education Facilities Modernization School Bond Act	MAJORITY	OPPOSE

Education Facilities Modernization, Repair and Safety Bond Act of 2024 Authorizes, a huge total of $10 Billion in the maximum level of Bonding capacity for K-12 Grade & Community Colleges to construct and modernize statewide education facilities, with inflation adjustments. Allocation is based on assessed value of buildings go be renovated. School buildings must be at least 75 years old. A Master Plan must be prepared in accordance with Board of Education guidelines, enrollment projections, without overcrowding, Grants are limited to $500 million per property.  School Districts have already submitted a total of $3.4 Billion anticipation of passage. Bond payoff will be out of the general fund. No match is required. The money from the last successful school bond, passed in 2016, has been spent, and the state’s school repair fund is expected to be depleted by January 2025.  Voters rejected the last school bond in March 2020, a $15-billion proposal that got only 47% of the vote.  This time around the governor and legislators have lowered the price tag; they hope voters will be in more of a spending mood. A simple majority is needed to approve the bond   There is a wait list of districts hoping the new bond will pass. Applications totaling $3.4 billion are ready, approved projects to repair aged properties, hazardous mold, leaky roofs, and septic systems, as well as to build classrooms, and modernize science labs. Rationale: This Measure will benefit affluent school districts with high assessed values and disadvantage rural school districts with low assessed values.

Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
3	GAY MARRIAGE (gay marriage - ACA 5)	MAJORITY	NO POSITION

Repeals that only a marriage between a man and a wife is valid, and adds the right to marry is a fundamental right to life, liberty and safety, happiness and privacy with due process and equal protection guaranteed.  Rationale: CoCoTax declines a recommendation because the measure is not within our mission and has no significant impact on taxpayers.

Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
4	(SB 867) Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024	MAJORITY	OPPOSE

Authorizes issuance of a huge total of $10 Billion in Bonds allocated to finance projects 1) for safe drinking water, drought, flood, water resilience ($3.8 billion); wildfire protection and forest resilience ($1.5 Billion);  coastal resilience ($1.2 billion); extreme heat mitigation ($450 million);  biodiversity and nature-based climate solutions ($1.2 Billion); resilient farms, ranches, working land ($300 million); park creation and outdoor access ($700 million); and clean air programs ($850 million). Funding is further allocated to specific regions eg. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ($150 million) or specific projects, etc.  Rationale: This looks more like a collection of special district bonds each that should require a 2/3rds vote. A shot gun approach with a comprehensive wish list.

Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
5	(ACA 1) infrastructure/affordable housing Exceptions to Prop 13	MAJORITY	OPPOSE

Assembly Constitutional Amendment, the “affordable housing and infrastructure exception” to Prop 13 lowers voter approval threshold from a two-thirds (2/3’s) requirement to 55% for passage for affordable housing and infrastructure. To fund through sales, use taxes and parcel taxes construction of public infrastructure or affordable housing including interest, for pothole repair, roads, bicycle paths, rapid transit, High Speed Rail, parks and trails, beaches and parking lots, electrical grids, wind turbines, solar panels, low-income housing, buildings, schools, power plants,  sidewalks, pipes, gateways, poles, pipes, conveyances, transmission lines, transportation, communication systems, electricity, heat, power, information technology, emergency medical. Libraries, flood protection, airports and seaports, and a multitude of projects public services, education, police, fire protection, parks, recreation and open space all lumped under “infrastructure.  The measure includes parcel taxes and Bond Indebtedness for these projects.  Any measure of this type only requires a 55% approval, not 2/3rss.  The measure would also require that any repeal of these restrictions would require a 2/3rds vote. Rationale: The amendment is opposed by the California Association of Realtors, California Chamber of Commerce, California Taxpayer Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and National Federation of Independent Businesses. Dr. Gary Galles Pepperdine University: "ACA 1 would sharply lower Proposition 13’s two-thirds voter threshold to 55% for local special taxes to fund 'infrastructure’ so vaguely defined that virtually anything could qualify. It would open the door to massive new tax hikes . . .”

Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
6	Slavery and Involuntary servitude	MAJORITY	OPPOSE

Prison Labor.  Slavery and Involuntary servitude prohibited; there shall be no discipline of any incarcerated person for refusing a work assignment. Awarding Credits to an incarcerated person voluntarily accepting employment are allowed.  (a) Slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited. (b) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall not discipline any incarcerated person for refusing a work assignment. (c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from awarding credits to an incarcerated person who voluntarily accepts a work assignment. Rationale: Part of a sentence involves work assignments to keep the facility(ies) clean and tidy and service of fellow prisoners in the kitchen and routine chores by those living there.  This is not a stay at a vacation resort.

Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
32	Living Wage Act (Minimum Wage)	MAJORITY	OPPOSE

For an employer who employs 26 or more employees, from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 the minimum wage shall be $17,00 per hour.  From January 1, 2025 until adjusted by subdivision ( c) $18 per hour.  For an employer who employs less than 26 employees, from January 1. 2024 to December 31, 2024 the minimum wage shall be $16 per hour.  From January 1, 2025, the minimum wage shall be $17 per hour. From January 2026 until adjusted by subdivision ( c) $18 per hour.  Subdivision ( c) on or before August 1 of that year an each August 1 thereafter the Director of Finance shall calculate an adjusted minimum wage, increasing the minimum  by the lesser of 3.5% and the rate of change in the averages for the US Labor June 30^th non-seasonally  adjusted CPI for urban Wage earners and Clerical workers to take effect on the following January 1.  Rationale: The California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has taken an oppose position on Proposition 32, a November ballot measure that would increase California’s minimum wage to $18 an hour for thousands of the state’s employers. “If Proposition 32 is passed, Californians will see higher costs, fewer jobs and a reduction of available work hours for employees in the state,” said Cal Chamber President and CEO Jennifer Barrera. “Voters need to reject this proposal because it will contribute to inflation, add to the high cost of living in California, and hurt state revenues (and) will put even more pressure on our state budget.” Smaller employers . . . will experience a disproportionate impact if the measure passes. “Smaller companies that are crucial to the success of local communities and our economy will be hit hard if Proposition 32 becomes law,” said Barrera. “it will result in a reduction of jobs and reduced working hours for California employees,” Currently, that minimum annual salary with a $16 an hour minimum wage is $66,560. Under an $18 an hour minimum wage, that minimum salary would be $74,880.

Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
33	Justice for Renters Act	MAJORITY	OPPOSE

Rent Control/Repeal Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995 SCA 2, Public Housing Projects, This ballot measure Repeals Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, removing a legal requirement that currently prohibits the development, construction, and acquisition of low-rent housing projects until a majority of the qualified electors of the city, town or county in which the low rent housing project is proposed which subordinates the democratic process.   Passing this measure allows cities and counties to impose or expand residential rent-control ordinances without voter approval. Homeowners would lose control of rent to cover expenses and eliminates market rate rent adjustments on a vacancy, and lowers property values on your home when This is the third attempt.  Rationale: Unions opposing: Norcal Carpenters Union, United Brotherhood of Carpenters, and Joiners of America; Organizations opposing: Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, California Apartment Association, California Business Roundtable.  NFIB California State Director John Kabateck. “Prop. 33 is mainly one man’s third attempt in the past six years to empower cities and counties with greater rent-control abilities, and we hope it fails by the same 60% or greater this year.” NFIB-member, small-business owners surveyed rent the building(s) (including home-based) their business is operated from and 32% had investments in commercial or residential buildings. r  (A Rent Control measure is being considered at the Federal level, stripping a landlord of a depreciation deduction if the rent is increased more than 5% per year.)

Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
34	Protect Patient Now Act of 2024, halt predatory pricing of drugs,	MAJORITY	NO POSITION

To stop predatory pricing of discounted drugs to low income and most vulnerable patients. Authorize Department of Health Care to provide and administer a permanent Medi-Cal RX program; Impose strict accountability on prescription drug price manipulators. Require they spend 98% of their net income on direct patient care, submit detailed accounting of both its California statewide and nationwide gross revenue and net revenues to participate in the discount prescription drug program.  Rationale:  When patents expire, there will be competition in discount pricing. Prop 34 only applies to heath care providers that spent over $100 million in a 10-year period on anything other than direct patient care. It is reported that based on the criteria its targeted against one nonprofit AHF Healthcare Foundation that also operates multi-family HIV/AIDS housing and stems from a battle over rent control with owners of other multi-family residences who oppose rent control. Not being sure of the motives, CoCoTax takes a neutral position.

Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
35	Patient Access to Permanent Funding for Medi-Cal Healthcare Act	MAJORITY	OPPOSE

(23-0021A1) Protect Funding for Medi-Cal Health Care Services. Makes permanent the Tax on managed health care insurers recently renewed to fill a budget gap and set to expire in 2026. It will be restricted to reimburse doctors, hospitals, planned Parenthood, and healthcare providers that treat Medi-Cal patients.  Establishes a permanent dedicated trust fund separate from the general fund, including interest earned by the fund, audited every four years by the Controller. The restricted tax covers Medi-Cal costs of low-income families with children, and seniors and people with disabilities covered by Medi-Cal.  The department of Health Services having a ministerial duty to manage and use the fund for the nonfederal share of Medi-Cal managed care rates for children, adults, seniors and persons with disabilities.  Prop 35 will protect and secure revenue by extending an existing tax on health insurance companies, without raising taxes on individual taxpayers. Rationale: This Measure establishes a dedicated fund which will prevent the state from redirecting these revenues for non-health care purposes to balance the budget.

Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
36	FELONY CHARGES AND INCREASED SENTENCES FOR DRUGS/THEFT	MAJORITY	SUPPORT

Mandatory Felony Charges and increased sentences for certain Drug and Theft Crimes’ augmented sentences if armed with a gun or assault weapon.  The Court shall advise and provide any person convicted of or pleads guilty or no contest to a hard drug offense a written statement in his plea form:“You are hereby advised it is extremely dangerous and deadly to human life to manufacture, distribute, sell, furnish administer or give drugs in any form real or counterfeit. If you do and that conduct results in the death of a human being you could be charged with homicide, up to and including the crime of murder” & recorded in the abstract of the conviction. This includes a substance containing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, phencyclidine and base or analogs of any of these substances. If you ae armed with a loaded operable fire arm and found guilty of a felony it is punishable by imprisonment in state prison for 2, 3, or 4 years and ineligible for diversion, in some cases shall be enhanced with an additional term of 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years. This law allows Felony charges for petty thefts or shoplifting and the value of the property stolen is aggregated into a single count in determining the degree of theft. A person who has two or mor prior convictions and who is convicted of petty theft or shoplifting is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail. A second or subsequent conviction of this section is punishable by imprisonment in State prison.  This includes carjacking or theft of a car.  If a person who is armed with a firearm or more of the principals is armed in the commission of a felony, that person shall be punished by an additional and consecutive term. The term may be enhanced additionally three, four or five years, if armed with an assault weapon as defined , eg machine gun.  Rationale: Supported by the California District Attorneys Association, and California State Sheriffs' Association. The top donors include Walmart ($2.5 million), Home Depot ($1 million), and Target ($500,000).  For crimes where money or property worth $950 or less is stolen, the initiative would make the crime punishable as a felony for individuals who have two or more prior theft-related convictions (reinstates Petty with a Prior.). The initiative would make the punishment up to three years in jail or prison depending on their criminal history.

November 5^th 2024 Regional Ballot Measure

(This measure has been withdrawn)

Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
RM4	$20 Billion Affordable Housing Bond	2/3rds or 55%	OPPOSE

A $20 Billion, 54-year, Bay Area Housing Finance Authority Bond in the nine county Bay Area counties. This measure will cost $48.3 Billion I tax increases that will make housing costs more expensive.  Ranging from $18.98 to $34.20 per $100,000 assessed value, a home valued at $1 million dollars will pay an additional $342.00 on their property tax bill, or $680 per year on a $2 million dollar home. Rationale: This is the largest bond measure in California history and if Prop 5 passes, it will only need approval by 55% of the voters. This is a stack and pack plan for the majority of new units in the core cities and major transportation corridors. The MTC and its housing component, the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority projects taxpayers will pay $48,281,750,400 in higher property taxes to pay for new and rehabilitated affordable housing units in the nine-county Bay area.   Based on 72000 units the average price paid will by $670,000 for each unit. According to BAHFA’s Tax Rate Statement, the bond will increase property taxes by $18.98 to $34.20 per $100,000 of assessed value over 53 years, lasting until 2077-2077. This translates to $189.90 to $342.00 per million dolllar home. Over 53 years this is in excess of $18,000 per residence that taxpayers will be paying the share of the 72,000 new or rehabilitated home.  But that is not the end of the expenses.  It will require major new infrastructure for water, electricity, and other utilities, roads and transit, public safety, fire, police, emergency response, hospitals, urgent care etc.   While 80 % of the funding is to return to source, the county of origin (and four designated cities (Napa, Oakland San Jose and Santa Rose) will pay 20% to be retained and managed by MTC.   Most bond administration if limited to 5%. This means those counties with biggest populations, Alameda, San Francisco and Santa Clara will receive more per capita than the smaller population counties.  There is no provision for any capital expenses for renewal or replacement of the 47,000 new units.  The Bay Area is facing a severe shortage of affordable housing needed for working families—teachers, first responders, and caregivers among them. Although there is mention of Homelessness, there is very little in the actual business and spending plans for homelessness.   MTC and BAHFA forecast if moderate income people get more housing, that will open up more units for low-income people. If more low-income people get housing that will open up more units for very -very low-income people. There is nothing in the measure about expenses for utilities, repairs, cleaning and maintenance. Assets start deteriorating the moment they are created and keeping appliances working increases over time as they age.  Borrowing long term to pay short-term expenses is never a good idea.  More likely homeless and mentally ill will not be able to pay any rent at all or expenses.

November 5^th 2024 Local Ballot Measures

City	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
El Cerrito	G	Extend 1 Cent Sales Tax Measure	MAJORITY	OPPOSE

"To continue to maintain and prevent cuts to City services, without increasing taxes, such as: fire prevention/emergency response times; neighborhood police patrols; wildfire prevention; crime prevention/ investigation; after-school programs; library hours; senior services; open space, parks/ playfields; for general government use, shall El Cerrito’s measure extending the existing voter approved 1¢ sales tax, until ended by voters be adopted, providing approximately $4,000,000 annually, with citizens' oversight, annual audits, all funds staying local, none to Sacramento?"

City	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
Lafayette	H	1/2 Cent Sales Tax Measure	MAJORITY	NO POSITION

"To maintain current level of city services including :sustain wildfire preparedness, maintain public safety and the number of police services; traffic safety improvements; street safety for biking and walking;   maintain city parks, open spaces, paths and playfields; Services for senior citizens, continue support for community partners such as the Chamber of Commerce and School Districts; shall the City of Lafayette levy a ½  cent sales tax annually for 7 years, generating approximately $2.4 million annually, subject to public review, annual audit." (NOTE: A majority of board members preliminarily voted to oppose this measure, but we agreed to withhold final judgment until hearing from a city official at our 8/23 meeting).

City	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
Pinole	I	1/2 Cent Sales Tax Measure	MAJORITY	OPPOSE

"To maintain Pinole's fiscal stability, prevent cuts, provide essential City services such as: maintaining 911 emergency response times/fire prevention; preventing property crimes; keeping public areas/parks safe and clean; providing clean water; repairing potholes/streets; retaining/attracting local businesses; other general services; shall a measure be adopted establishing a 1/2¢ sales tax providing $2,500,000 annually until ended by voters if approved by the State, requiring audits, spending disclosure, all funds spent for Pinole?"

City	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
Richmond	J	Add Nonpartisan Municipal Primary	MAJORITY	NO POSITION

"Shall the Charter of the City of Richmond be amended to reform the election process in the City of Richmond to improve accountability, governance, and strengthen representation by adding a nonpartisan primary municipal election to the City’s election process?"

City	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
Richmond	K	Oil Refinery Tax	MAJORITY	OPPOSE

"To fund general City services, such as clean air and water treatment, roads, parks, fire and emergency response, toxic land cleanup, and improving community health and youth services, and for general government use, shall the measure establishing a business license tax on the privilege of conducting oil refining in the City of Richmond at the rate of $1.00 per barrel of feedstock refined in the City of Richmond, providing approximately $60 million to $90 million annually for 50 years, be adopted?"

City	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
Richmond	L	Ranked Choice Voting	MAJORITY	OPPOSE

"Shall the City of Richmond Charter be amended to authorize use of instant runoff voting, also known as ranked choice voting, to allow Richmond voters to rank Mayor and City Council election candidates in order of preference on their ballots, intended for implementation for the November 2026 election, and upon adoption of an implementing ordinance by the Richmond City Council?"

City	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
San Pablo	M	Cannabis Business License Tax	MAJORITY	OPPOSE

"Shall the measure imposing a cannabis (“marijuana”) business license tax of up to 7% of gross receipts, or $10 per square foot of commercial grow area, lasting until voters end it, and estimated to generate $1,500,000 to $2,200,000 annually to provide City services such as police protection, recreational services, services to local youth and seniors, community grant programs, and for general government use, with all funds staying local and subject to annual audit, be adopted?"

City	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
San Ramon	N	One Cent Sales Tax	MAJORITY	NO POSITION

“To provide local funding to maintain City of San Ramon programs, services and facilities, including: public safety and police services; neighborhood crime prevention; traffic enforcement and road safety; street and road improvements and maintenance; library and recreation services; park maintenance; youth, senior, and cultural programs; and other city services and facilities; shall the City of San Ramon levy a one cent sales tax, providing approximately $16,000,000 annually for 10 years, subject to public review, annual audits, and all funds benefitting San Ramon.” The City faces a $17.6 million structural budget shortfall in Fiscal Year 2024-25.  The five-year forecast shows a widening gap that reaches $52.3 million in Fiscal Year 2028-29 if no further action is taken. This measure is necessary to maintain a secure financial base and provide cost effective and responsive services.  This measure will expire in 10 years. San Ramon gets less sales tax revenue than other cities in the county split and the ability to or interest of the county in addressing this issue is not apparent.  Closing parks or outsourcing them won’t solve the problem and reducing police is not going to go over well. (NOTE: CoCoTax Board Members were split between YES, NO and NEUTRAL positions on this measure. Although we normally use the phrase "NO POSITION" for measures that do not have significant taxpayer impact, we are using it here to indicate the absence of a majority view).   

District	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
Byron Union SD	R	School Bond Measure	55%	OPPOSE

"To repair / upgrade elementary and middle schools, including replace school well for safe drinking water; upgrade classrooms/ labs for science, technology, engineering, arts, math instruction; repair leaky roofs/ HVAC systems; upgrade school safety/ security systems; shall Byron Union School District's measure be adopted authorizing $24,000,000 in bonds at legal interest rates, levying $18 per $100,000 of assessed value (averaging $1,520,000 raised annually) while bonds are outstanding, with independent oversight, audits, all funds locally controlled?"

District	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
Martinez Unified SD	O	School Bond Measure	55%	OPPOSE

"To modernize/construct classrooms and school facilities; make health and safety improvements; construct career/technical education classrooms; renovate facilities at Martinez junior/senior high schools and adult education; shall the Martinez Unified School District measure authorizing $90,000,000 in bonds, at legal interest rates, and levying approximately $38.40 per $100,000 of assessed valuation (raising $5,800,000 annually) while bonds are outstanding, be adopted, with a board appointed citizens’ oversight committee and annual independent audits to assure proper expenditure of funds?"

District	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
Pittsburg Unified SD	P	School Bond Measure	55%	OPPOSE

"To repair, upgrade and expand local schools; fix leaky roofs; improve safety/ security/ accessibility for students with disabilities; update classrooms/ labs for math, reading, writing, and science; and prevent student overcrowding, shall Pittsburg Unified School District’s measure be adopted, authorizing $140,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, levying a tax averaging $60 per $100,000 assessed value ($9,200,000 annually) while bonds are outstanding, with independent oversight, no money for administrators, and all funds used locally?"

District	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
San Ramon Unified SD	Q	School Bond Measure	2/3rds	OPPOSE

"Without increasing current tax rates, to renew expiring local school funding that cannot be taken by the State; attract/retain highly qualified teachers; support academic programs in science, technology, engineering, arts, math, reading, writing; and prepare students to compete for college/careers; shall San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s measure renewing its existing $144 annual parcel tax be adopted at the same rate, providing approximately $6.8 million annually for 9 years, with senior exemptions, independent oversight, no funds for administrator salaries?"

District	Measure	DESCRIPTION	Needed to Pass	CoCoTax POSITION
Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District	S	Park and Recreational Facility Bond Measure	2/3rds	OPPOSE

"To repair and improve local parks, trails, and recreation facilities to support health, fitness, and activities for residents of all ages; add restrooms where needed; and improve park safety, children’s playground equipment, access for residents with disabilities, shall Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District's measure authorizing $77,000,000 in bonds at legal rates be adopted, levying approximately $4,200,000 annually while bonds are outstanding at average rates of $19 per $100,000 assessed value, with independent citizen oversight and all money staying local?"