U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta has become the latest elected official to throw his weight behind Santa Cruz County’s Measure Q. The ballot measure would introduce a parcel tax of $87 to be collected annually and distributed across the county for a wide range of projects, from managing public lands and reducing wildfire risks to protecting drinking water sources.
Nov. 5 2024 ballot measures
Coverage of local and state measures on the ballot for Santa Cruz County voters in the 2024 general election.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California voters consider tough love for repeat drug offenders with Prop 36
Proposition 36, on the November ballot, would unwind portions of a 2014 initiative that reduced most shoplifting and drug possession offenses to misdemeanors that rarely carried jail time. The ballot measure comes as concerns about mass incarceration give way to public anger over property crime and a fentanyl crisis that has plagued the state since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Measure Q: Water and wildfire protection tax has one surprising opponent — county fire chiefs
The Water and Wildfire Protection Initiative, on the ballot in Santa Cruz County this November as Measure Q, would introduce a parcel tax of $87 to be collected annually and distributed across the county for a wide range of projects from managing public lands and reducing wildfire risks to protecting drinking water sources. The only group to register official opposition to the tax is the Santa Cruz County Fire Chiefs Association. It believes that the measure does not offer enough specifics on how it will reduce wildfire risk and does not adequately fund fire districts.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Coke, Pepsi and Red Bull spend big to defeat Santa Cruz’s soda tax
A key pre-election campaign finance reporting deadline on Thursday revealed that the biggest players in America’s soft drink industry, including the parent companies of Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper and Red Bull, have donated nearly $1 million to defeat a city of Santa Cruz ballot measure this fall that would enact a special tax on sugary drinks.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Capitola’s Measure Y would up sales tax, raising $2.2 million a year
The City of Capitola is seeking to hike its sales tax from 9% to 9.25%, raising an additional estimated $2.2 million a year for the city’s general fund, with the city council ultimately deciding how the money is spent. Officials emphasized that the sales tax rate hasn’t increased since 2016 and that Capitola’s rate would still be the lowest in Santa Cruz County.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Measure X: Scotts Valley business license tax measure explained
The City of Scotts Valley seeks to update and modify its business license tax for the first time in over 30 years via Measure X, which would introduce a new base rate and a sliding scale based on gross receipts that will determine the amount each business will pay annually. There is no formal opposition to the measure. Taxes on the city’s smallest businesses would jump from $90 to at least $150, while larger businesses could pay upward of $6,000 depending on their annual revenue. The changes would bring in an estimated additional $750,000 in local tax revenue.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California ballot asks voters to invest in climate solutions
California officials cut billions from ambitious climate programs to offset an unexpected budget deficit. Now they hope voters approve a multibillion-dollar bond to fill the gap.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
California Medicaid ballot measure is popular, well funded — and perilous, opponents warn
Proposition 35, aimed at creating a dedicated stream of funding to provide health care for California’s low-income residents, would put funding for many programs at risk because the ballot measure would supersede the budget, opponents say.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘Millions’ expected to pour into campaigns over Santa Cruz’s sugary drink tax
The battle of Measure Z, Santa Cruz’s proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, is cooking up to be an expensive one with interests as big as the Coca-Cola Co. pouring money into stopping it. And if they can’t get Santa Cruz voters to defeat the tax in November, corporate opponents are expected to challenge the measure in court.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County Democrats endorse Kristen Brown
The Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee has endorsed Kristen Brown for District 2 county supervisor over her opponent, Kim De Serpa. The committee is also endorsing a “yes” vote on Measure Z (Santa Cruz’s 2-cent-per-ounce tax on the sale of sugar-sweetened drinks), Measure Y (Capitola’s sales tax rate increase to 9.25%) and Watsonville’s proposed charter amendments, which include removing a citizenship requirement to serve on the city’s boards and commissions. The committee is recommending a “no” vote on Measure U, a San Lorenzo Valley Water District proposal that would cap regular service charge increases to 2% per year until 2049.