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Measure R Voter Guide Measure R Voter Guide Measure R Voter Guide Measure R Voter Guide Measure R Voter Guide November 2014 Ballot November 2014 Ballot November 2014 Ballot November 2014 Ballot November 2014 Ballot Dear Neighbor Dear Neighbor Dear Neighbor Dear Neighbor Dear Neighbor: We are writing to follow up on last month’s City newsletter, with more information about Measure R Measure R Measure R Measure R Measure R — the El Cerrito the El Cerrito the El Cerrito the El Cerrito the El Cerrito Preservation of Citywide Services Measure Preservation of Citywide Services Measure Preservation of Citywide Services Measure Preservation of Citywide Services Measure Preservation of Citywide Services Measure — on your November ballot. Measure R Measure R Measure R Measure R Measure R extends a local sales tax measure previously enacted by El Cerrito voters and sets the rate at one cent. Measure R Measure R Measure R Measure R Measure R will continue to generate locally-controlled funds for local projects and services. Funds cannot be taken by the State. If approved, Measure R Measure R Measure R Measure R Measure R funds will help to: ■Maintain current levels of public safety, including police services, neighborhood patrols, and crime prevention programs; ■Preserve rapid 9-1-1 response times; ■Continue after-school programs for children and teens; and ■Maintain city parks, play fields, paths, and open spaces. The extension of Measure R Measure R Measure R Measure R Measure R will continue the City’s current fiscal practices that emphasize transparency, fiscal prudence, and public financial oversight including citizen participation in the annual budget process, mandatory financial audits, and reports to the community to ensure that all voter-approved funds are spent appropriately. Please make an informed decision before you vote. Scott Hanin Sylvia Moir Lance Maples Chris Jones City Manager Police Chief Fire Chief Recreation Director the city of the city of STD US POSTAGE PAID ADMAIL 10890 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito CA 94530 Remember to Vote November 4 Remember to Vote November 4 Remember to Vote November 4 Remember to Vote November 4 Remember to Vote November 4th th th th th! ■You should be receiving your absentee ballot any day now. ■Polls are open 7am until 8pm on Election Day. ■You can register to vote online by visiting the California Secretary of State’s website at: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm ■The last day to register is October 20, 2014. For more information about Measure R, please visit our website: For more information about Measure R, please visit our website: For more information about Measure R, please visit our website: For more information about Measure R, please visit our website: For more information about Measure R, please visit our website: www.el-cerrito.org/MeasureR www.el-cerrito.org/MeasureR www.el-cerrito.org/MeasureR www.el-cerrito.org/MeasureR www.el-cerrito.org/MeasureR ---PAGE BREAK--- OFFICIAL MEASURE R IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OFFICIAL MEASURE R IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OFFICIAL MEASURE R IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OFFICIAL MEASURE R IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OFFICIAL MEASURE R IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS (excerpted and formatted for readability) The City Council of the City of El Cerrito has placed Measure R on the ballot to ask the City’s voters to approve a…tax [that] would add a penny to the price of an item that costs a dollar…. …The ballot question approved by the City Council and the City’s adopted two-year budget identify priorities for use of the revenue from the tax, if approved by the voters: ■fire prevention and emergency services; ■emergency response times; ■neighborhood police patrols; ■firefighter and police staffing; ■crime prevention and investigation resources; ■after-school programs; library support; ■senior services; open space, parks, paths and play fields; and ■increasing the City’s emergency reserves. The tax would terminate automatically 12 years after collection begins, unless extended by the voters. The Measure requires the City’s independent auditors to prepare annually a publicly available report on the collection, management, and expenditure of revenue from the tax. Additionally, it requires the City’s Financial Advisory Board (FAB) to review that report as part of its review of the annual audit of the City’s finances…. A “Yes” vote is a vote to approve a one-cent transactions and use (sales) tax for 12 years, with annual audits and review by the FAB. A “No” vote is a vote against the tax. Measure R would be approved if it received a simple majority of “Yes” votes. The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure “…WHEREAS, supporting the services that make El Cerrito a great community are important to our residents’ quality of life; and WHEREAS, El Cerrito needs local control over local funds, for local needs; and WHEREAS, extending existing, voter-approved funding at the one cent sales tax rate will continue to address city service and delivery needs; and WHEREAS, additional funding will help maintain current levels of fire and police (public safety) services, including neighborhood patrols, crime prevention programs, and rapid 9-1-1 response times; and… WHEREAS, the City wishes to continue to address service priorities that the public has identified such as police and fire services, earthquake and disaster preparedness programs, and maintaining city parks, paths, playfields and open spaces; and WHEREAS, any local funding would continue to require citizens’ oversight, mandatory financial audits, and yearly reporting to the community to continue to ensure that all voter-approved funds are spent as promised…. WHEREAS, at the November 4, 2010 election, the voters of the City approved Measure R, a 0.5% transactions and use tax, to be in effect for eight years and sunset in 2018…This ordinance…extend[s] the existing tax for 12 years, until March 31, 2027, and adjust[s] the rate to Official Measure R Ordinance Official Measure R Ordinance Official Measure R Ordinance Official Measure R Ordinance Official Measure R Ordinance (excerpted) the city of To view the full Measure R ordinance or Impartial Analysis, visit www.el-cerrito.org/MeasureR