State & County Ballot Measures

The Way it is Now:  One of the ways state government supports public education is by providing money to build and repair school and college buildings. This money usually comes from bonds.

What Prop. 13 would do if it passes:   Prop. 13 would allow the state to sell %15 billion in new bonds to help build and repair schools, including:

• $9 billion for preschools and K-12 schools
• $6 billion for public universities and community colleges

Schools could use this money to make buildings safer, to construct new buildings, or to increase the amount of student housing. Prop. 13 would also increase the amount of money local school districts could raise by selling their own bonds.  Districts with less money could also apply for more help from the state to pay for construction projects.

Effect on the State Budget:  The state would spend about $740 million per year for the next 35 years to repay the bonds. The effect on local governments would depend on the choices that school districts and universities make about building repairs and new buildings.

YES   People for Prop. 13 say:

• Prop. 13 is a smart investment that will make California’s schools and colleges safer.
• Money from Prop. 13 will help pay for badly needed repairs and security improvements.

NO   People against Prop. 13 say:

• Voters already approved $9 Billion in 2016 to build and repair schools
• Prop. 13 would allow school districts to borrow more money, which could increase taxes for all California property owners

County Measure R

LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT COMMISSION ORDINANCE. (Reform LA Jails). 

What would this measure do?

Measure R requires that the Los Angeles County sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission research and draft a Comprehensive Public Safety Reinvestment Plan and Feasibility Study to reduce the county’s jail population and reinvest savings from reducing the jail population to provide prevention and mental health treatment. The plan should create mental health alternative custody programs that reduce recidivism and expand youth centers and programs to prevent youth from getting into crime.

The measure also would empower the Commission to conduct their own investigations of the Sheriff’s operations by granting the power to subpoena documents and witnesses, to administer oaths and to produce written reports of investigations.

Citizen’s Initiative –requires a majority vote

YES on Measure R. 

1. Studies have shown that youth violence prevention, mental health treatment, and housing programs that address chronic homelessness work better than incarceration to prevent crime.
2. Recidivism of youth and adults is higher if persons have been jailed rather than released to supportive treatment.
3. NO formal arguments in support were submitted.

No on Measure R. 

1. There are not enough treatment programs to serve the number of addicts and mentally ill.
2. There is already an Office of Inspector General which can conduct investigation into the Sheriff’s Department.
3. NO formal arguments in opposition were submitted.

County Measure FD

LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT 911 FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE MEASURE 

What would this measure do?

Measure FD  authorizes Los Angeles County to impose a parcel tax to provide funds for the LA County Fire Department to hire and train additional firefighters and paramedics, maintain, update, and replace emergency response infrastructure, including firefighter safety equipment, vehicles and aircraft, facilities, life-saving rescue tools, and emergency communications technology, to improve  fire protection and emergency medical response. Only the 56 cities that contract for county fire protection and all unincorporated areas will be taxed and will vote on this tax.

This parcel tax will be at the rate of $0.06 per square foot (SF) of all structural improvements on all taxable properties not exempt from property tax. The tax will increase by 2% per year. This amounts to $60 for a 1000 SF building. (The first year inflation increase would be $1.20 for a total of $61.20) There is no term limit or sunset on this tax.

Requires 2/3 Majority Vote

YES on County Measure FD. 

1. LA County needs more skilled firefighters to fight increasingly more severe and frequent wildfires that sweep into residential areas.
2. 9-1-1 calls for paramedics have increased more than 50% in 10 years but the paramedics have only increased by 5% stretching their capacity to respond to emergencies.
3. LACFD’s communications system is badly out of date and incompatible with wireless networks.

NO on County Measure FD. 

1. LA County is awash in increased property tax dollars, but the Supervisors prioritize pet projects instead of vital firefighting.
2. This tax does not exempt all seniors nor does it exempt all renters.
3. This tax has no sunset-it goes on forever.