Fail: 1518 / 45.6% Yes votes ...... 1810 / 54.3% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

If Measure R is approved by two-thirds (2/3) of those voting on the measure, property owners in the City of South Lake Tahoe would pay a $40.00 annual fee per improved parcel to be used exclusively for purchasing, operating and maintaining snow removal equipment beginning with the 07/01/06 -- 06/30/07 property tax cycle. If approved, this $40.00 parcel tax will replace the current $20.00 benefit assessment. This $40.00 parcel tax will increase annually by July 1st by an amount equal to the lesser of 3% or the change in the San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose All Urban Consumer Price Index published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or any successor to the index, between the previous April and March of the year in which the calculation is performed. This measure exempts cemeteries, seasonal or summer cabins leased from the U.S. Forest Service and time share interests in time share units.

It is projected that the additional approximate sum of $217,800 will be raised in the first year the measure is enacted, based upon the amount collected laster year from the current $20.00 per parcel benefit assessment. Thereafter, the amount raised would be subject to a cost of living adjustment not to exceed 3% each year.

The measure is a special tax. The use of the proceeds is specifically limited to the purchase, operating, and maintaining of snow removal equipment. This measure requires a two-thirds (2/3) majority to pass.

The special tax imposed by this resolution shall appear as a separate item on the tax bill of each such taxable parcel and shall be collected at the same time and manner as county property taxes are collected as set forth in the applicable provisions of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and shall be subject to the same penalties and the same procedure and sale in case of deliquency as provided for such taxes. All laws applicable to the levy, collection, and enforcement of county property taxes shall be applicable to such tax.

Upon approval of the voters as set forth in this Resolution, the current annual benefit assessment imposed in the portion of County Service Area No. 3, which lies within the municipal boundaries of the City of South Lake Tahoe, in the sum of $20.00 per improved parcel, would be replaced by this special tax of $40.00 per improved parcel. In the event this special tax is not approved by the voters, the current benefit assessment of $20.00 per improved parcel, which was enacted in 1989, will continue to be imposed in the same manner and in the same amounts as currently authorized. If Measure R is not approved, no additional funding will be made available from parcel assessments for snow removal equipment used within the City of South Lake Tahoe.

This impartial analysis is submitted to the voters as required by Section 9280 of the Elections Code. The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure R. If you desire to have a copy of the Resolution Establishing a Special Tax for the Purpose of Purchasing, Operating, and Maintaining Equipment for Enhanced Snow Removal Services, please call the City Clerk at (530) 542-6004 and a copy will be mailed to you at no cost.

s/ Catherine L. DiCamillo, City Attorney

These are the facts: Measure R is an increase in the city's snow removal parcel tax from $20 (established in 1989) to $40, with a provision for no more than 3% per year consumer price index (CPI) increase.

The costs of graders and blowers have each doubled since 1989: $20 cannot adequately replace equipment.

Measure R buys equipment only. The city spends an additional $90 per improved parcel providing snow removal services, for drivers, maintenance workers, fuel, and repair parts.

Measure R funds can only be used for snow removal, and not for any other city needs.

If Measure R is approved: The city will maintain its current "front line service" grader replacement cycle.

The city will replace three snow blowers, averaging 31 years in age. The average age of "front line" blowers will be reduced from over 24 years to only 3 years.

The city will be able will sustain an average fleet age of about 9 years and maintain reliable snow removal service for the foreseeable future.

Adding $20 for the entire winter of snow removal is a minimal cost with maximum benefit, providing increased safety and a continuing long-term equipment replacement program.

Your Yes vote is important. This is a special tax that requires 2/3 voter approval. Please vote Yes on Measure R to help our community maintain reliable snow removal services.

s/ John E. Upton, City Council Member
s/ Michael Chandler, Former City Fire Chief
s/ Carol Drawbaugh, Former City Public Works Director
s/ Del Laine, Former Council Member, City of South Lake Tahoe
s/ Kevin Cole, Former Mayor and Council Member, City of South Lake Tahoe

SECTION 1. Pursuant to Government Code Sections 50075 and 37100.5, the City Council proposes to levy a special tax on each improved parcel of property, residential and non-residential, within that portion of County Service Area No. 3 which lies within the municipal boundaries of the City of South Lake Tahoe, in the sum of FORTY DOLLARS ($40.00) per improved parcel commencing with fiscal year 2006-2007 and continuing each fiscal year thereafter, except for parcels of land developed with cemeteries and seasonal or summer cabins located on Forest Service land pursuant to lease. The proposed resolution is attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference as "Exhibit A." This proposal shall be presented to the voters of the City of South Lake Tahoe at the Consolidated Special Statewide Election to be held on November 8, 2005.

SECTION 2. This Resolution was unanimously approved by all members of the City Council at their regular meeting held on Tuesday, July 19, 2005.

SECTION 3. Pursuant to City Code Section 2-2.4, the City Council hereby consolidates with El Dorado County, the measure to be included on the ballot for the Consolidated Special Statewide Election to be held on November 8, 2005.

SECTION 4. Pursuant to California Elections Code Section 9222, the City Council hereby orders the following question be submitted to the voters at the November 8, 2005 Consolidated Special Statewide Election: "Shall the current $20.00 annual benefit assessment imposed to fund snow removal services within the City of South Lake Tahoe, be replaced by a $40.00 annual special tax upon all improved parcels, with specified exceptions, subject to an annual inflation adjustment not to exceed 3%, to be used exclusively for purchasing, operating and maintaining snow removal equipment?"

SECTION 5. In all particulars not recited in this Resolution, the election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections. SECTION 6. Notice of the time and place of holding the election is hereby given, and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the election, in time, form and manner as required by law.

SECTION 7. Pursuant to California Elections Code Section 9280 the City Attorney shall prepare an impartial analysis of the measure, not to exceed 500 words in length, showing the effect of the measure on the existing law and the operation of the measure, and transmit such impartial analysis to the City Clerk within ten (10) days of the adoption of this Resolution.

SECTION 8. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original Resolutions.

EXHIBIT A CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE RESOLUTION NO. 2005-44 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING, OPERATING, AND MAINTAINING EQUIPMENT FOR ENHANCED SNOW REMOVAL SERVICES FOR THAT PORTION OF COUNTY SERVICE AREA NO. 3 WHICH LIES WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of the County of El Dorado formed County Service Area No. 3 pursuant to Title 3, Division 2, Part 2, Chapter 2.2. of the California Government Code; and WHEREAS, on July 19, 1983, by Ordinance 3373, the Board of Supervisors established a benefit assessment of TWENTY DOLLARS ($20.00) per improved parcel in the unincorporated area of County Service Area No. 3 to acquire new additional snow removal equipment, for the period up to June 30, 1993; and WHEREAS, on September 20, 1989, the City Council approved the Joint Powers Agreement with the County of El Dorado for the purpose of proving expanded snow removal services within the municipal boundaries of South Lake Tahoe, which established a benefit assessment of TWENTY DOLLARS ($20.00) per improved parcel within the City of South Lake Tahoe; and WHEREAS, on April 30, 1991, by Ordinance No. 4158, the Governing Board found that it was in the public interest to repeal the provisions of Ordinance No. 3373 limiting the use of the benefit assessment to equipment acquisition only, and deleting the termination date of the benefit assessment of June 30, 1993, to instead allow for the continued imposition of the benefit assessment of TWENTY DOLLARS ($20.00) per improved parcel to be used for providing equipment and maintenance of equipment for snow removal purposes; and WHEREAS, the cost of replacement of snow removal equipment has escalated significantly while the benefit assessment has not been increased in sixteen years, limiting the ability of the assessments collected pursuant to the Joint Powers Agreement Providing Snow Removal Services to maintain services at the current levels; and WHEREAS, on December 9, 2003, the City Council adopted Resolution 2003-92 supporting the County of El Dorado in pursuing increasing the current parcel assessment within County Service Area No. 3 for purchase of snow removal safety equipment; and WHEREAS, Government Code Sections 50075 and 37100.5 authorize the City Council to levy a special tax to fund services such as snow removal services; and WHEREAS, the City Council proposes to levy a special tax for the purpose of replacing the existing benefit assessment and to provide the additional funding necessary to enhance the current level of service.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of South Lake Tahoe finds, determines, declares, and orders as follows:
1. Upon approval by the voters, as set forth in this Resolution, there shall be levied and assessed a special tax on each improved parcel of property, residential and non-residential, within that portion of County Service Area No. 3 which lies within the municipal boundaries of the City of South Lake Tahoe, in the sum of FORTY DOLLARS ($40.00) per improved parcel commencing with fiscal year 2006-2007 and continuing each fiscal year thereafter, except for those parcels outlined herein as follows: A. Parcels of land developed with cemeteries shall be exempt. B. Seasonal or summer cabins located on Forest Service land pursuant to lease shall be exempt. This special tax for snow removal equipment and services shall increase annually on July 1 by an amount equal to the lesser of three percent (3%) or the change in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose All Urban Consumer Price Index published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, or any successor to that index, between the previous April and March of the year in which the calculation is performed.
2. "Parcels of improved property," as used in this resolution shall mean any unit of real property held in separate ownership, which is capable of sale or transfer without further action under the Subdivision Map Act (Government Code Section 66410, et seq.), and which is improved with a permanent structure, except time share interests in time share units. "Time share interest" means a legally transferable interest in a Time Share Unit. "Time share unit" means a residential unit for which (a) the right to occupy such unit is divided into specified periods of time on a periodic basis and (b) the right to occupy such unit for a particular period of time on a periodic basis is legally transferable.
3. The special tax imposed by this resolution shall appear as a separate item on the tax bill of each such taxable parcel and shall be collected at the same time and manner as county property taxes are collected as set forth in the applicable provisions of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and shall be subject to the same penalties and the same procedure and sale in case of delinquency as provided for such taxes. All laws applicable to the levy, collection, and enforcement of county property taxes shall be applicable to such tax.
4. Upon approval of the voters as set forth in this Resolution, the current annual benefit assessment imposed in the portion of County Service Area No. 3 which lies within the municipal boundaries of the City of South Lake Tahoe, in the sum of TWENTY DOLLARS ($20.00) per improved parcel, would be replaced by this special tax of FORTY DOLLARS ($40.00) per improved parcel. In the event this special tax is not approved by the voters, the current benefit assessment will continue to be imposed in the same manner and in the same amounts as currently authorized.