HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-23 Nov 8 General Election - Amending F&B Tax
RESOLUTION NO.2016- a ti
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND TO SUBMIT TO THE
VOTERS AT THE NOVEMBER 8, 2016, GENERAL ELECTION AN
ORDINANCE AMENDING AMC CHAPTER 4.34, FOOD AND
BEVERAGE TAX
THE CITY OF ASHLAND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council submits to the qualified voters of the City the Question of
approving or rejecting "An Ordinance Amending AMC Chapter 4.34, Food and Beverage Tax,"
as approved by the City Council on August 16, 2016, and which shall become effective only
upon its passage by the electorate.
SECTION 2. The City Council refers this question to the ballot of the November 8, 2016,
general election.
SECTION 3. The City Recorder shall cause to be delivered to the Elections Officer of Jackson
County, Oregon, the attached Ballot Measure Notice, not later than 61 days prior to the elections.
The Election Officer is requested to give the electorate of the City notice that the election shall
be conducted by mail pursuant to Oregon law; and
SECTION 3. The City Recorder shall give notice of the election as provided in the laws of the
State of Oregon and the charter and ordinances of the City of Ashland.
SECTION 4. The ballot title for this measure is set forth in Exhibit A, attached.
SECTION 5. The City Attorney is authorized to alter the text of the ballot to comply with any
rules, procedures or practices of the Elections Officer of Jackson County to implement the
requirement of Oregon law.
The resolution is effective upon signing by the Mayor.
PASSE and ADOPTED this day of , 016:
Barbara Christensen, City Recorder
SIGNED and APPROVED THIS /7day of ,2016:
J hn trom erg, Mayor
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ReviewpTas to form:
Aec~
Da id Lohman, City Attorney
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EXHIBIT A
City of Ashland, Ballot Measure, November 8, 2016, General Election
Approval of an ordinance amending AMC Chapter 4.34, Food and Beverage Tax, and
referring the ordinance to the voters of Ashland in the November 8, 2016 general election
Caption:
Approving use of food and beverage tax for street maintenance
Total 10 words (10 words permitted per ORS 250.035)
Question:
Shall Ashland voters enact a Council-approved ordinance to use food and beverage tax
revenue for street repair and rehabilitation?
Total 19 words (20 words permitted per ORS 250.035 20)
Summary:
The Ashland City Council has approved an ordinance increasing the share of Ashland
Parks and Recreation Commission food and beverage tax revenue and dedicating a share
of food and beverage tax revenue to a street repair and rehabilitation program. The
ordinance becomes effective upon approval by the voters of Ashland. The ordinance does
not change the current tax rate of 5% and does not change the tax's current sunset date of
December 31, 2030.
The City's current food and beverage tax ordinance directs 20% of all tax revenues to
park land acquisition and development, and 80% of all tax revenues to debt service on the
City's waste water treatment plant. The ordinance for which the City seeks approval
would increase the share of tax revenue for parks to 25% and would set aside a fixed
amount of revenue for waste water debt, with any revenues not required for that debt
directed to the Street Fund for a pavement management program.
Total 160 words (175 words permitted per ORS 2-50.035)
Explanatory Statement:
The City of Ashland first enacted a food and beverage (F&B) tax - a tax on prepared
food and non-alcoholic beverages sold by restaurants and caterers in 1993. The tax
was created to provide a revenue stream for the acquisition of open space (park land).
The City Council subsequently amended the F&B tax to allow its use for debt service on
the City's waste water treatment plant. Of the taxes collected, 20% goes to parks and
80% goes to waste water debt. Passage of this ballot measure will enact an ordinance
approved by the Ashland City Council that amends the Ashland Municipal Code to
redirect a portion of the City's food and beverage (F&B) tax revenue to street
maintenance and to increase the portion of F&B tax revenue that is directed to the
Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission from 20% to 25%. Enough revenue is
generated by the F&B tax to fully fund current waste water treatment debt, a pavement
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management program to overlay or reconstruct all arterial and collector streets and to
increase the share of F&B revenue for Parks from 20% to 25% of total collections. The
ordinance does not change the current tax rate of 5% and it does not change the tax's
sunset date of December 31, 203 0.
If approved, this ordinance will fix the amount of F&B tax provided for waste water debt
at a specific number rather than a percentage, and direct tax revenues over that amount to
the City's street fund, where it will be available to pay for street repair, rehabilitation and
reconstruction. The street repair program would apply to the City's arterial and collector
streets.
Result of a `No" Vote
If this measure does not pass, the existing food and beverage tax ordinance will remain in
place, with all tax revenues directed to parks (20%) and waste water treatment debt
(80%).
Total 310 words (500 words permitted per ORS 2=6150, 251.305 & 251.325 500)
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