Attorney General No.

SA95RF0002

Secretary of State No.

661

Description

TAXES, FEES, ASSESSMENTS. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Limits authority of local governments, including charter governments, to impose taxes and property-related assessments and fees. Requires majority of voters approve increases in general taxes. Prohibits property-related assessments except for capital, maintenance and operation costs for sidewalks, streets, sewers, water, flood control, drainage, vector control, unless all property owners sign petition. Requires voter ratification of specified assessments imposed after June 6, 1978; general taxes after January 1, 1995. Specifies procedures for implementing assessments, fees. Limits fees to cost of service. Most new or increased fees require majority vote of property owners or two-thirds of affected residents. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The measure's restrictions on fees would result in immediate local government revenue losses, possibly exceeding $100 million, and more if voters fail to ratify assessments and taxes, or use initiative powers to reduce local revenues. A reduction of millions to tens of millions of dollars of future local government revenues is possible due to restrictions on raising revenues. The measure could also result in millions in increased annual local government costs related to new procedures, including election requirements.

Proponents

Joel Fox Richard L. Gann Lee A. Phelps Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, 621 South Westmoreland Avenue, Suite 202, Los Angleles, Ca 90005-3971

Date

6-14-1995

Document Type

Initiative

Qualified

Failed to Qualify

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