September 12, 2008

SAN MATEO CO.: VOTERS TO DECIDE ON VARIOUS LOCAL MEASURES ON NOVEMBER BALLOT

San Mateo County voters will be asked in November to decide on measures aimed at addressing the county's looming structural deficit, limiting development, and funding various school districts.

In Redwood City, voters will be asked to decide between two competing measures regarding the development of the Cargill lands and other open space lands.

Measure W, placed on the ballot by Save the Bay and Friends of Redwood City after the groups collected 6,500 voter signatures, would require that any City Council actions permitting certain land uses in designated open spaces be approved by two-thirds of voters.

Areas affected by the measure would include the Cargill lands and adjacent parcels, the Docktown area, seven private homes near Red Morton Park, 11 city parks, the lagoons at Redwood Shores and various other areas, according to an analysis by Redwood City's city attorney.

"The bottom line is that Measure W allows for a vote on anything that is zoned open space by the city and it leaves unchanged anything that is currently allowed or permitted on the property," Save the Bay political director Stephen Knight said.

A competing initiative, Measure V, placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the City Council, is less restrictive.

It would require majority voter approval of any legislative action by the council permitting or approving development of the Cargill lands, designated in the measure as the 1,450 acres of land east of U.S. Highway 101 and south of Seaport Boulevard.

The city's argument for Measure V states that the measure should be passed because it is limited in its scope, applying only to the Cargill Lands and not circumventing the city's planning and environmental review process and general plan.

Both measures V and W require majority voter approval. However, if both measures receive a majority vote, the one that receives the most votes will be adopted, according to the city clerk's office.

A measure out of Brisbane, Measure T, asks for a special business license tax on any business that generates gross receipts of more than $10 million annually. The tax would be 7.5 cents per $100 of total sales and would be phased in over three years. The measure requires two-thirds approval to pass.

Additional local measures on the November ballot include two San Mateo County measures put forth by the Board of Supervisors that seek to place business license taxes on commercial parking facilities and vehicle rental businesses.

Measures Q and R are aimed at generating revenue for the county to provide funding for services such as law enforcement and medical and human services as state budget cuts continue and the county's projected structural deficit looms around $92.1 million by 2013, according to the county.

Measure Q, which asks for a business license tax of 8 percent of gross receipts to be charged to operators of commercial parking facilities in the unincorporated county, including those at San Francisco International Airport. The tax would earn the county an estimated $4 million annually.

Similarly, Measure R asks that a business license tax of 2 1/2 percent of gross receipts be placed on operators of vehicle rental businesses in the same areas. The tax would bring the county an estimated $7 million annually.

However, an argument in opposition of Measure Q states, "The problem is not revenue; it's spending. A fifth-grader could see that." Opponents of Measure R argue the tax would increase the costs that consumers pay and thus affect the hospitality industry by decreasing overall business.

Each measure requires majority approval to pass.

School district measures from the Bayshore, Millbrae, San Carlos and Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary school districts have also been approved for the ballot.

Measure Y for the Bayshore School District proposes a $96 parcel tax beginning July 1 for six years, with adjustments for inflation and exemption for residents 65 years and older. The measure requires two-thirds approval to pass.

Measure U for the Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary School District proposes a seven-year, $78 parcel tax with exemption for residents 65 years and older. The measure requires two-thirds approval to pass.

Measure X for the Millbrae School District proposes the district issue $30 million in bonds with all spending reviewed and audited by a citizens' oversight committee. The measure requires 55 percent voter approval to pass.

Measure S for the San Carlos School District seeks to increase the existing special tax by $75 so residents pay $185 per parcel per year, beginning July 1 with cost-of-living adjustments and senior exemption. The measure requires two-thirds voter approval to pass.

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 20, and the deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Oct. 28.

Additional information about the election, including full arguments in favor and opposition of local ballot measures, is available from the San Mateo County Elections Office online at www.shapethefuture.org.