Politics & Government

Election Reforms: Should It Be Easier To Pass Taxes and Bonds?

Two proposed amendments to the state Constitution would lower the voter threshold for funding measures

Counties, special districts and other agencies may find it easier to pass funding measures if two proposed amendments to the state Constitution move forward. 

The proposals would lower the threshold of votes required to approve bonds and special taxes from two-thirds to 55 percent.

Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 passed the state Assembly on Saturday with a 54-25 vote. ACA 8 would let communities pass infrastructure bond measures with the same 55 majority that now applies to school bonds. 

The state Senate will take up ACA 11 on Wednesday. It would make similar changes to the votes required to pass special taxes. 

The changes are inspired, in part, by the narrow failure of Measure J in Los Angeles last year. It would have continued a half-cent sales tax that pays for transit improvements, but fell just short of the required two-thirds vote with 66.11 percent of voters in favor of the measure. 

In Contra Costa County, Measure Q failed last November despite getting 52 percent of the vote. The parcel tax within the Contra Costa Fire Protection District would have raised $17 million a year for fire protection services.

In addition, Measure A came up just short of the two-thirds vote required when it tallied 66.16 percent of ballots cast. The measure would have levied an $11-a-year parcel tax for six years to provide funding for the Contra Costa Community College District.

ACA 8 and 11 would include new accountability actions for local bond and revenue measures, according to the California Special Districts Association. These are the requirements: 

  • Specify all purposes of tax proceeds to voters;
  • Include annual independent audits of the proceeds collected and programs funded;
  • Establish a citizens’ oversight committee to review all expenditures and financial audits.
The amendments would reverse a portion of Prop. 13, a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1978 that limited property taxes and set the two-thirds requirement for tax measures. 

If approved by the Senate, the constitutional changes would then go on the ballot for California voters to decide on.

What do you think? Should it be easier to pass bonds and special taxes for roads, bridges, sewers and fire stations?


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here