LAKEPORT — Language for a potential lake tax was finalized Tuesday.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) made adjustments to the proposed countywide sales tax measure, which would be placed before voters on the November ballot.
A public hearing is set for Aug. 7, the last day the BOS can take action on any proposed tax measure.
The BOS first discussed the possibility of a sales tax measure or measures for road improvements and lake-related programs at its June 26 meeting, directing staff to bring additional information about the two proposed measures.
Following discussion at the July 10 and July 18 meetings, the BOS directed staff to draft a resolution and ordinance for a sales tax measure for lake programs. The road improvements tax measure was abandoned in order to not take away from the city of Clearlake”s own road tax measure.
Public Works Director Scott De Leon and staff prepared an expenditure plan for the proposed tax measure, which would be a 0.5-percent tax.
Of the expected $2.4 million in revenue generated annually by the measure, 88 percent would go toward the county”s invasive species, aquatic weeds and algae programs; 9 percent to the water quality control program; 2 percent be set aside for future match funds and capital projects, and 1 percent toward the administrative expenses of the Auditor-Controller.
A citizen oversight committee would be established with members appointed by the BOS to annually review and prepare a report on the expenditure of revenue from the fund.
County Counsel Anita Grant said the proposed measure made it past the threshold of the State Board of Equalization, the state agency charged with tax administration and fee collection, and is on the way to the agency”s legal division. Grant said any changes to the ordinance or resolution needed to be forwarded immediately to the agency.
The BOS made changes to the proposed ballot question, which is required to be 75 words or less in length, to address oversight of the tax measure for voters. The BOS decided to include only the first seven pages of the ordinance, which outlines the specifics of the tax measure, in the November ballot guide.
The remaining seven pages of the ordinance, detailing the state”s guidelines on tax collection, were excised.
The supervisors changed the maximum implementation period of the measure from 20 years to 10 years to gauge the program”s effectiveness.
District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith said he worried the program”s proposed 10-year end date might be too early to gauge its effectiveness, asking for no proposed end or “sunset” date.
District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock said no timeframe would be “hard for me to swallow,” adding the public would see it the same way.
Grant said if the Board of Equalization had a problem with the 10-year sunset date, the 20-year sunset date would come back at the Aug. 7 public hearing. Grant said the measure, if approved and placed on the ballot, would be known as “Measure E.”
Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley said a fiscal impact statement would need to be prepared by Auditor-Controller Cathy Saderlund by Aug. 21. She said arguments in favor and against the measure would also need to be prepared, as well as rebuttals and analysis.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
