CITY OF REDDING

IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS BY CITY ATTORNEY OF MEASURE A

Measure A was placed on the ballot through a citizen’s initiative. If approved, Measure A would add a
transactions and use tax at the rate of 1% (one percent) within the City of Redding. This kind of tax is often
called a “sales tax.” The tax would be assessed on the sale of tangible personal property and the storage,
use, or other consumption of such property, unless and until repealed by the voters of the City. Certain
necessary purchases, such as groceries or medicine, would be exempt from the tax.
Currently, the retail sales tax rate in the City is 7.25%, which is the amount imposed and collected statewide
by the State of California. This Measure would create a local 1% tax, increasing the total sales tax rate to
8.25%. The City Treasurer estimates the increase would result in approximately $30 million of additional
annual revenue to the City.
The tax proposed by this Measure is a “special tax,” meaning that the money generated by the tax can only
be spent on specific services. The Measure divides the revenue from the tax among eight different service
categories. They are:
• Redding Police Department (12%)
• Jail Capacity and Custody Operations of the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office (12%)
• Redding Fire Department (13%)
• Roads (30%)
• Redding Regional Airport (5%)
• Parks (9%)
• Northern Riverfront Public Facilities (9%)
• Discretionary Use by City Council (10%)
This allocation is legally binding and cannot be changed without a new vote of the people. Measure A
creates additional restrictions within each of these categories for the first five (5) years. Starting in year
six, the City Council has more flexibility on spending within each category, but only if expenditures are
approved by a four-fifths (4/5) vote.
Measure A also requires the creation of a Citizen’s Advisory Committee and the performance of annual
independent audits. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee is responsible for reviewing and commenting on
the use of tax proceeds and may recommend uses of any unallocated funding. The independent audits must
be made public, with an opportunity for public comment, at a meeting of the City Council.
A “Yes” vote is a vote in favor of the tax, thereby increasing the current sales tax rate from 7.25% to 8.25%.
A “No” vote is a vote against the tax.
This Measure will be approved if it receives a simple majority (greater than 50%) of “Yes” votes.
The above statement is an impartial analysis of Ordinance or Measure A. If you desire a copy of the
ordinance or measure, please call the elections official's office at (530) 225-4447 and a copy will be
mailed at no cost to you.