Update on State and Local
Ballot Measures for
November 2024 General
Elections
City Council Meeting
September 10, 2024
Scott Alonso, Government Affairs Officer
Presented by:
Introduction
Council’s Role:
• Evaluates policy positions based on adopted legislative platforms • Considers various ballot measures throughout the year November 2024 General Election:
• Potential impact on the city
• Council may decide to support or oppose specific measures Ballot Measures
• County-wide:
o Two sales tax measures
• Statewide:
o Ten measures on the ballot
Background
Due to the high level of interest for the general election, the Council may wish to express their official position on these measures.
The following sales tax measures are Countywide:
• Measure I – “Sonoma County Child Care and Children’s Health Initiative and Sales Tax” requires a simple majority to pass, lasts until repealed by voters; one-quarter of one percent tax rate; placed on the ballot via signature gathering
• Measure W – “Sonoma County Library Transactions and Use Tax” requires a two-thirds vote to pass, lasts until repealed by voters; one-eighth of one percent tax rate; placed on the ballot via the Sonoma County Library Commission
Background continued
The following statewide measures will be on the November ballot:
• Proposition 2, Authorizes Bonds for Public School and Community College Facilities, Totaling $10 Billion
• Proposition 3, Constitutional Right to Marriage, Legislative Constitutional Amendment • Proposition 4, Authorizes Bonds for Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, and Protecting Communities and Natural Lands from Climate Risks, Totaling $10 Billion • Proposition 5, Allows Local Bonds for Affordable Housing and Public Infrastructure with 55% Voter Approval, Legislative Constitutional Amendment
• Proposition 6, Eliminates Constitutional Provision Allowing Involuntary Servitude for Incarcerated Persons, Legislative Constitutional Amendment • Proposition 32, Raises Minimum Wage to $18 by 2026
• Proposition 33, Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rental Control on Resident Property
• Proposition 34, Restricts Spending of Prescription Drug Revenues by Certain Health Care Providers
• Proposition 35, Provides Permanent Funding for Medi-Cal Health Care Services • Proposition 36, Allows Felony Charges and Increases Sentences for Certain Drug and Theft Crimes
Background continued
Prior City Council Review
On August 20, 2024, the Council voted to oppose Measure J, a Sonoma County ballot measure.
On May 23, 2023, the Council voted again to oppose the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act.
On April 12, 2022, the Council voted to oppose a potential statewide measure known as the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act.
On June 16, 2020, the Council voted to support the Sonoma County Transportation Authority’s GoSonoma measure on the November 2020 ballot.
Analysis
• Based on the proposed implications of the various
measures, staff recommends the Council provide
specific direction to advocate for positions on:
o Measure I, Our Kids Our Future
o Measure W, Sonoma County Library Commission
o Proposition 2
o Proposition 4
o Proposition 5
Analysis continued
• Measure W: Permanent Extension of Sales Tax for Local Library Services o Extend current sales ax dedicated to local libraries
o Measure Y (2016): One eighth sales tax with a 10-year lifespan o Replacement: Measure W would replace Measure Y
o As of June 30, 2023, Measure Y has funded over $64 million for the local library system
Specifically, the local measures would do the following:
• Measure I: Our Kids Our Future
o Funds raised would be administered by First 5 Sonoma County. o 60% of the revenue each year would go to access to early childcare and education services, including the development of new education facilities and providing rate increases for childcare providers and thus increasing compensation for employees of childcare providers.
o 40% of the revenue would go to expand perinatal and pediatric screening, referral and treatment of trauma; implementation of programs aimed at pediatric patients and their families for health care and mental health services. o The measure is expected to generate $30 million a year for these services.
Analysis continued
In terms of statewide propositions, the measures would do the following:
• Proposition 2: $10 billion bond to support K-12 educational facilities o Upgrade existing facilities or develop new facilities o Funding would be awarded on a first come, first serve basis o 85% percent of the available funding would be focused on K-12 schools and fifteen percent would go to community colleges
o Could also be used for the creation of new classrooms for transitional kindergarten
• Proposition 4: The Climate Bond
• $10 billion in funding from bonds; Funding would prioritize disadvantaged communities
• Funding would go to programs such as safe drinking water, flood mitigation, climate resilience, wildfire prevention, protection of coastal lands, clean energy • Proposition 5: Allows Local Bonds for Affordable Housing with 55% Approval • a constitutional amendment that would allow local bonds for affordable housing or public infrastructure to be approved by the electorate at 55 percent, rather than the current two-thirds approval threshold.
• The City previously supported ACA 1, which was passed by the Legislature in 2023.
9 Recommendation
The Communications & Intergovernmental Relations
Office recommends that the Council provide specific
direction on which ballot measures the Council would like to take a formal position on for the September 24, 2024, meeting.
Comments?