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Sacramento County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
Measure L
Cardroom Tax Measure
City of Rancho Cordova
Majority Approval Required

Pass: 16,288 / 79.94% Yes votes ...... 4,088 / 20.06% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures
Results as of Nov 30 4:14pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (49/49)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Full Text

Shall an ordinance be adopted requiring each cardroom within the City to pay the City a tax of 2% of annual gross gaming revenues commencing on January 1, 2014; then in each year thereafter, a tax of 3% of annual gross gaming revenues up to $5,000,000, and a tax of 4% of annual gross gaming revenues over $5,000,000, to fund general municipal services such as public safety, street maintenance, and neighborhood improvements?

Impartial Analysis from City Attorney
Measure L is a City Council proposed measure which, if approved by a majority of the voters, will impose a tax on persons engaged in the business of operating a cardroom in the City of Rancho Cordova. The tax, also referred to as the "Cardroom Tax," will consist of a tax on the annual gross gaming revenues received by the cardroom.

Specifically, Measure L will require persons engaged in the operation of a cardroom to pay the City a tax of 2% of annual gross gaming revenues beginning on January 1, 2014. Then, starting January 1, 2014, and in each year thereafter, cardroom operators will be required to pay a higher rate of 3% of annual gross gaming revenues up to $5,000,000, and a tax of 4% of annual gross gaming revenues over $5,000,000.

Measure L is a tax on annual gross gaming revenues. The Measure defines gross gaming revenues in the same manner that the term "gross revenues" is defined in the Gambling Control Act. Section 19805(r) of the Gambling Control Act defines "gross revenues" as "the total of all compensation received for conducting any controlled game, and includes interest received in payment for credit extended by an owner licensee to a patron for purposes of gambling, except as provided by regulation." The term "controlled game" is defined by Section 337j(k) of the California Penal Code in part as "any poker or Pai Gow game, and any other game played with cards or tiles, or both, approved by the Department of Justice" and local ordinance.

The City currently has two (2) cardrooms. Measure L will impose the same tax on both cardrooms. The number of cardrooms the City can have is subject to State law and the City's Municipal Code. Currently, section 4.22.020 of the City's Municipal Code and State law only allow two (2) cardrooms within the City. This Measure will not increase the number of cardrooms allowed in the City. The Cardroom Tax imposed by Measure L is a general tax, which means that revenues from it are deposited in the City's general fund to be used for any municipal services and general government purposes. Measure L identifies potential municipal services that it would fund as including "public safety, street maintenance and neighborhood improvements." These are examples of, not limitations on, the many different potential City uses of the tax revenues that will be generated by Measure L.

Measure L will not become effective unless the Measure is approved by at least a majority of those voting on the Measure. DATED: July 23, 2012
s/Adam U. Lindgren City Attorney

   City of Rancho Cordova

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Arguments For Measure L
Your Yes vote on Measure L supports vital community services and keeps Rancho Cordova's future strong. Our City of Rancho Cordova needs to maintain its successful history of balanced budgets to preserve our quality of life; Measure L can help our city provide the level of services we want and need.

This tax does not apply to the general public. This tax would only apply to the two legal gaming establishments in the City of Rancho Cordova.

The State of California, not the City of Rancho Cordova, provides the license that allows gaming facilities to operate. The State has permitted two State licensed cardrooms within the City boundaries.

A Yes on L means that all cardrooms will pay their fair share to keep our city's services strong for future generations.

A Yes on L will also mean that our City can continue to fund vital services such as public safety, maintenance and improvements to city streets and sidewalks, graffiti removal, and neighborhood enhancements among other general services.

Vote YES on Measure L.
s/Linda Budge Vice Mayor, City of Rancho Cordova
s/Craig Osborn Rancho Cordova Resident, Businessman
s/Ryan Lundquist Community Activist
s/Josie Steelman Retired Small Business Owner
s/Conrade C. Mayer Realtor and Community Volunteer

Rebuttal to Arguments For
NO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE L WAS FILED

(No arguments against Measure L were submitted)

Full Text of Measure L
Ballot Pamphlet including full text http://smartvoter.org/2012/11/06/ca/sac/measurel.pdf

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Created: December 17, 2012 13:46 PST
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