Elections: local tax measures.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was vetoed, but it is not clear if lawmakers will override this decision.

Local Tax Measures in Elections

This bill allows local governments to direct voters to a county voter information guide instead of including detailed tax rate information on ballots for complex tax measures, and requires providing additional details about the measure.

What This Bill Does

• Allows local governments to tell voters to look at a county voter information guide if a ballot measure has complicated tax rates or bond repayment terms.
• Requires local elections officials to give voters an extra statement with their sample ballots when they direct them to the voter information guide for tax rate details.
• This extra statement must explain why the tax is needed, how the money will be used, and list all expected tax rates and how long the taxes will last.
• Permits local governments to send out this extra information electronically if voters choose not to receive paper copies.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local government officials who submit ballot measures
• Voters deciding on ballot measures with complex tax rates or bond repayment terms

Terms To Know

County voter information guide

A document that provides detailed information about local ballot measures, including tax rates and how bonds will be repaid.

State-mandated local program

A state requirement that forces local governments to do something new or different, which may come with extra costs for those localities.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill was vetoed by the governor and it is unclear if lawmakers will override this decision.
• It's not clear how many voters will opt out of receiving paper copies of information guides in favor of electronic versions.

Official Summary Text

AB 699, Stefani.
Elections: local tax measures.
Under existing law, if a proposed local measure imposes a tax or raises the rate of a tax, the ballot must include the amount of money to be raised annually by the tax and the rate and duration of the tax.
If the measure imposes or increases a tax with more than one rate or authorizes the issuance of bonds, this bill would allow the local government submitting the measure to the voters to direct the elections official to include on the ballot a statement directing the voters to the county voter information guide for information about the tax rate
or about how the bond debt would be repaid, in lieu of providing the information
on the ballot as described above. If the local government directs voters to the county voter information guide for tax rate information, the bill would require local elections officials to provide a measure information statement with the sample ballot for the election. The bill would require the measure information statement to include, among other things,
a description of the purpose of the tax and how the revenue will be spent, a list of all tax rates expected to apply, and the duration of the tax. By requiring local elections officials to
provide additional information to voters, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law requires local governments, when submitting a measure for voter approval for the issuance of bonds that will be secured by ad valorem property taxes, to mail voters a statement that includes estimates of the tax rates required to fund the bond debt.
Existing law authorizes county and city elections officials to establish procedures to permit a voter to opt out of receiving a county voter information guide, state voter information guide, notice of polling place, and other associated materials by mail, and instead obtain them electronically by email or accessing the county’s or city’s internet website, if certain conditions are met.
This bill would authorize local governments to use those same procedures to electronically transmit the measure information statement and the statement including estimates of the tax rates required to fund bond debt.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs
mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF