On May 21, 2019, while considering whether to accept a report on the Contra Costa Transportation Authority's (CCTA) development of a Transportation Expenditure Plan and potential sales tax ballot measure, the Board of Supervisors referred to the Finance Committee the concept of a countywide sales tax (non-transportation) measure.
On July 5, 2019, the Finance Committee met and discussed the feasibility of a sales tax measure. County Counsel provided two attachments to supplement the discussion. The first attachment is a document outlining the procedural steps necessary to bring a general or special sales tax measure to the voters for approval. The second attachment discusses the limitations on the use of public resources in relation to ballot measure campaigns for a tax. Both documents are also attached to this agenda item for reference as attachments A and B, respectively.
At the July 2019, Finance Committee meeting, staff was asked to provide several follow up information items to the Committee at its next regular meeting, including: 1) information regarding the composition of parcels throughout the County, 2) County Counsel was asked to assemble information related to parcel taxes similar to what has been provided to the Committee for a sales tax (essentially a "Guide"), and 3) provide updated information as to what a 0.5% and 0.25% sales tax would generate if passed.
The attached report was presented to the Finance Committee on October 7, 2019. After deliberation, the Finance Committee directed staff to present these materials to the full Board of Supervisors on October 22, along with the following recommendations:
1. Determine that a sales tax should be pursued over a parcel tax for the entire County (unincorporated and cities),
2. Direct that an expenditure plan be developed prior to the ballot measure being listed,
3. Acknowledge that a general tax is not bound to be spent on specific services,
4. Create an ad hoc committee of Supervisors Mitchoff and Gioia to work on development of the expenditure plan,
5. Direct the ad hoc committee to create a workgroup composed of labor, community based organizations, Budget Justice Coalition, East Bay Leadership Council, and County Administrator staff.
6. Direct that meetings shall be open meetings governed by the Brown Act,
7. Direct staff to work with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) on logistics of listing a ballot measure and set up and collection contracts, if approved,
8. Direct staff to begin discussions with County lobbyist regarding special legislation needed to list measure on the ballot, but shall not begin drafting language or engaging legislators, and
9. Acknowledge that the Governor would need to sign special legislation by May/June timeframe for the ballot measure to be feasible.
At the October 22, 2019, Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board created a Potential Sales Tax Measure Ad Hoc Committee and referred the other recommendations to that body through the Finance Committee.
At the November 4, 2019, Finance Committee meeting, the Committee scheduled the first meeting of the Potential Sales Tax Measure Ad Hoc Committee and considered hiring a facilitator to work with the group.
At the first meeting of the Potential Sales Tax Measure Ad Hoc Committee on November 18, 2019, the Committee directed staff to return to the full Board of Supervisors with the recommendation to work with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration on logistics of listing a ballot measure and set up and collection contracts and to begin discussions with the County's lobbyist regarding special legislation needed to list a measure on the ballot.
There will be insufficient time for development of proposed legislation and other time sensitive actions prior to the November 2020 election.