HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 120-2023 (23-123)• _ City of South San Francisco
City Council
• Resolution: RES 120-2023
File Number: 23-123
P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400
Grand Avenue)
South San Francisco, CA
Enactment Number: RES 120-2023
RESOLUTION OPPOSING BALLOT INITIATIVE
NUMBER 1935 ALSO KNOWN AS THE "TAXPAYER
PROTECTION AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
ACT" AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SEND A
LETTER IN OPPOSITION.
WHEREAS, on Feb. 1, 2023, the "Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act,"
qualified for the November 2024 ballot; and
WHEREAS, this anti -local control measure will decimate vital local and state services to the
benefit of wealthy corporations; and
WHEREAS, the measure is sponsored by the California Business Roundtable (CBRT) and
endorsed by the California NAIOP (Commercial Real Estate Development Association), the Howard Jarvis
Taxpayers Association, and other business affiliates of CBRT; and
WHEREAS, the initiative limits voters' authority to adopt new and stricter rules for raising taxes
and fees and may make it more difficult to hold violators of state and local laws accountable; and
WHEREAS, all new or increased taxes or fees adopted by the Legislature, a city council, or the
local voters after January 1, 2022, must comply with the Act's new rules; and
WHEREAS, this initiative would expand the definition of a tax to include charges that the state
and local governments refer to as fees, such as certain charges that are imposed for a benefit granted to a
payer but not granted to those not charged. This would significantly alter the functional definition of taxes
and would subject much needed revenue generation tools to greater vote requirements; and
WHEREAS, the initiative would establish new stringent approval requirements for increasing state
and local taxes, whether sought by the governing body or the electorate. For local governments, all tax
increases under the expanded definition of taxes mentioned above would first need to be approved by
two-thirds of the legislative body before it is presented to the electorate for consideration; and
WHEREAS, this initiative would place any new tax or fee increase under extreme legal scrutiny
and would invite anyone to take costly and lengthy legal action against a governing body. Specifically, the
initiative would require that all new taxes or tax increases include highly technical information regarding its
specified use, longevity, and estimated cost to the electorate; and
WHEREAS, the imposition of taxes and fees to fund public services is an essential tool of
government. The COVID pandemic laid bare the necessity of allowing governing bodies at all levels of
government to act immediately to provide to their communities during times of emergency; and
City of South San Francisco
File Number: 23-123
Enactment Number: RES 120-2023
WHEREAS, the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act Initiative would impose
onerous and undemocratic restrictions on local governments and local voters that would reduce local
revenues by billions every year and would harm the function of virtually all local services.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of South San Francisco, that the
City hereby opposes ballot initiative 1935 known as the Taxpayer Protection and Government
Accountability Act;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the City Council of South San Francisco, that the City hereby
authorizes the mayor to send a letter in opposition to ballot initiative number 1935 also known as the
Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act.
At a meeting of the City Council on 7/12/2023, a motion was made by Vice Mayor Nagales,
seconded by Councilmember Coleman, that this Resolution be approved. The motion passed.
Yes: 3 Mayor Nicolas, Vice Mayor Nagales, and Councilmember Coleman
No: 1 Councilmember Addiego
Absent: 1 Councilmember Flores
Attest by
Rosa eovea Acosta, City Clerk
City of South San Francisco