26932 / 33.1% Yes votes ...... 54436 / 66.9% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

The current tax rate is seven and one-half percent (7.5%). The surcharge would increase the amount of tax paid to eight percent (8%) for a five-year period. Excepted from the proposed electricity and gas surcharges are persons qualifying for the low-income rate assistance program (LIRA) offered by the Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation ("PG&E").

The City may expend revenue it receives from the surcharge for any general fund purpose.

This measure also clarifies that the telephone users tax rate applies to all communications regardless of the origination or termination of the call, and regardless of whether the call is included within a "package" or is billed as a separately listed call.

First Part: The first part of this measure proposes to amend Section 4.28.030 of the Oakland Municipal Code in order to clarify the application of the telephone users tax. This Section is clarified for imposing the telephone users tax on all calls regardless of the origination or termination of the call, and regardless of whether the call is included within a "package" or is billed as a separately listed call.

Second Part: The second part of this measure proposes to amend the Oakland Municipal Code to provide for a one half of one percent (.50%) temporary (five year) surcharge to the City's alternate fuel, cable television, electricity, gas and telephone users tax rates. This one half of one percent (.50%) surcharge is in addition to the current seven and one half percent (7.50%) utility consumption tax. Thus, the proposed rate would be eight percent (8%) for five years.

FISCAL IMPACT
First Part: There may be an increase or no change in the City's telephone users tax revenue, and on a telephone bill. There will be administrative costs associated with this measure; however, these costs cannot be determined until program implementation.

Second Part: The Financial Services Agency estimates that the City will gain $3,315,267 in revenue annually from this one half of one percent (.50%) utility consumption tax surcharge. Although it is difficult to make such estimates with precision, we have reviewed data from the Financial Services Agency and the City Manager's Budget Office; and, conclude that these estimates are reasonable.

This tax surcharge revenue will be deposited into the City's General Fund subject to appropriation pursuant to the budget and fiscal provisions of the City Charter. An accompanying advisory measure (Resolution 77325) will allow the voters to determine if they want this tax surcharge revenue to be spent on violence prevention programs.

Utility operators will collect this one half of one percent (.50%) utility consumption tax surcharge from their utility customers. For example, a $50 utility bill will have a $.25 tax surcharge.

Persons qualifying for the low-income rate assistance program (LIRA) offered by the Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation (PG&E) are exempt from the electricity and gas tax surcharges.

There will be administrative costs associated with this measure; however, these costs cannot be determined until program implementation.

s/ROLAND E. SMITH, CPA City Auditor

The Measure also clarifies that the telephone users' tax rate applies to all communications regardless of the origination or termination of the call, and regardless of whether the call is included within a "package" or is billed as a separately listed call

A "Yes" vote is a vote in favor of authorizing imposition of a one-half of one percent (1/2%) temporary surcharge to the City's utility users' tax rate.

A "No" vote is a vote against the imposition of a one-half of one percent (1/2%) temporary surcharge to the City's utility users' tax rate.

Measure HH is submitted to the voters of the City in accordance with the Constitution of the State of California. In order to pass, a "Yes" vote by a majority (50%+1) of the voters voting on the measure is required.

s/JOHN RUSSO City Attorney

Oakland Tribune

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With hard economic times in the Bay Area, Oakland has had to cut back on many programs. If we are to add 100 more police and carry out the specific crime prevention programs described in the Advisory Measure FF, we need more city revenues. This is what the temporary surcharge of Measure GG makes possible.

For five years only, a half percent (0.50%) surcharge will be added to your utility bills: telephone, gas, electric and cable. If you pay a total bill of $200 a month for all your gas, electric, telephone and cable services, the additional cost to you from this Measure HH surcharge will be less than a cup of coffee: $1.00. In other words, we are asking for a half a penny on each dollar you spend on utilities. Very low income people will be exempt from paying surcharges on electricity and gas.

Fighting crime, helping troubled youth, reducing domestic violence and assisting returning parolees simply cannot be done without more money. Paying a little more each month with your utility bills is a small price to pay for increased personal safety and public well-being.

Please help keep Oakland on the move. Vote the revenue needed to support our violence prevention programs.

For more information, see http://www.jerrybrown.org.

VOTE YES ON HH

s/JERRY BROWN Mayor of Oakland
s/ROBERT L. JACKSON Pastor of Acts Full Gospel Church
s/HENRY L. GARDNER Former City Manager

NO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE HH WAS SUBMITTED.

(No arguments against Measure HH were submitted)

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Oakland desires to amend the Oakland Municipal Code in order to provide for a one-half of one percent temporary (five year) surcharge to the City's alternate fuel, cable, electricity, gas and telephone users tax rate; and

WHEREAS, all revenues received from any increase will be deposited in the general fund of the City to be expended for general fund purposes; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the City Council of the City of Oakland does hereby submit to the voters at the November 5, 2002 special election the text of the proposed ordinance, which shall be as follows:

SECTION 1. The Municipal Code is hereby amended to add, delete, or modify sections as set forth below (section numbers and titles are indicated in bold type; additions are indicated by underscoring and deletions are indicated by strike through type; portions of the regulations not cited or not shown in underscoring or strike-through type are not changed).

SECTION 2. Paragraph A of Section 4.28.030 of the Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

4.28.030 Telephone users tax imposed.

SECTION 3. The Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding Section 4.28.031 to read as follows:

4.28.031 Imposition of surcharge.

The surcharge imposed by this Section shall expire on February 2, 2008.

SECTION 4. The Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding Section 4.28.041 to read as follows:

4.28.041 Imposition of surcharge.

Excepted from this surcharge are persons qualifying for the low-income rate assistance program (LIRA) offered by the Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation ("PG&E").

SECTION 5. The Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding Section 4.28.051 to read as follows:

4.28.051 Imposition of surcharge.

Excepted from this surcharge are persons qualifying for the low-income rate assistance program (LIRA) offered by the Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation ("PG&E").

SECTION 6. The Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding Section 4.28.061 to read as follows:

4.28.061 Imposition of surcharge.

The surcharge imposed by this Section shall expire on February 2, 2008.

SECTION 7. The Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding Section 4.28.071 to read as follows:

4.28.071 Imposition of surcharge.

The surcharge imposed by this Section shall expire on February 2, 2008.