Sonoma County Grand Jury
• 2016-2017
Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury 2016-2017 County Sales Tax Limitations
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 7 findings
F1
There are no mechanisms in place to coordinate between Sonoma County jurisdictions on sales tax measures.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors develop a formal process to work with cities, independent special districts and JPA’s to coordinate future sales tax measures to ensure sales tax revenues are maximized across all jurisdictions. (F1)
F2
The County’s current revenue raising is limited to 1.125% in the unincorporated County which is equal to about $24 million per year, but that capability may be limited if the burden for countywide services is perceived as being unfairly placed on rural residents.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors immediately, but not later than August 31, 2017, submit a request to it’s State Assemblyman or State Senator to draft legislation necessary to obtain an exemption to the 2% ceiling in County sales tax authority (F2, F3, F4, F5).
F3
Cotati’s sales tax rate now stands at 9.125%, restricting the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors’ ability to increase revenues on a countywide sales tax measure to 0.125% or about $10 million per year.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors immediately, but not later than August 31, 2017, submit a request to it’s State Assemblyman or State Senator to draft legislation necessary to obtain an exemption to the 2% ceiling in County sales tax authority (F2, F3, F4, F5).
F4
Given the size of the County’s unmet funding needs ($150m) compared to the discretionary funding available to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors (@$10m) it is quite possible that further sales tax measures will be put before voters, but the amount of such sales tax is limited by the current sales tax cap.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors immediately, but not later than August 31, 2017, submit a request to it’s State Assemblyman or State Senator to draft legislation necessary to obtain an exemption to the 2% ceiling in County sales tax authority (F2, F3, F4, F5).
F5
There is precedent for the Board of Supervisors to request an increase in the Sales Tax Cap because five California counties have already sought and obtained legislative relief from the sales tax cap.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors immediately, but not later than August 31, 2017, submit a request to it’s State Assemblyman or State Senator to draft legislation necessary to obtain an exemption to the 2% ceiling in County sales tax authority (F2, F3, F4, F5).
F6
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors did not adhere to the priorities described in its 2016 Work Priorities Document when they voted to propose a Sales tax for Parks on the residents of the unincorporated county.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors immediately, but not later than August 31, 2017, draft and adopt a policy that any sales tax increase measure they propose to voters be accompanied by a resolution clearly stating either: • How the resulting funding increase matches the funding priorities previously established by the Board of Supervisors, or • If the sales tax addresses a new budget item, a comprehensive statement explaining why priorities are being revised (F6, F7).
F7
The Parks sales tax measure was defeated in part because voters rejected the notion that unincorporated residents should pay the cost of services enjoyed by all citizens of the county.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors immediately, but not later than August 31, 2017, draft and adopt a policy that any sales tax increase measure they propose to voters be accompanied by a resolution clearly stating either: • How the resulting funding increase matches the funding priorities previously established by the Board of Supervisors, or • If the sales tax addresses a new budget item, a comprehensive statement explaining why priorities are being revised (F6, F7).
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office