Do Your Homework, Suisun City: MANY Measures On Ballot!

SOLANO COUNTY, CA – There are 15 local measures on the Solano County ballot in the Nov. 8 election.

Solano County and the cities of Vacaville, Fairfield, Suisun City and Vallejo are asking for tax revenue and the Davis, Dixon and Winters unified school districts are proposing parcel tax or bond measures.

The cities of Dixon and Rio Vista are asking voters if the city treasurer should be an appointed position, and Fairfield voters will decide if property at Interstate Highway 680 and Gold Hill Road should become a land
preserve and open space preserve conservation area for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway.

All Solano County voters will decide Measure A, a quarter-cent sales tax for general government purposes that will raise $16.8 million a year for 10 years. It needs the approval of a majority of the voters.

Countywide Advisory Measure B would encourage the county to allocate 100 percent of Measure A's tax revenue to the Solano Fund for Children, including programs for homeless children, child abuse prevention,
after school and preschool, preventive health care and jobs for youth, according to Measure A and B supporters.

The Central Solano Citizen/Taxpayer Group and the Solano County Taxpayers Association oppose the measures, referring to Measure B as "bait" since it is an advisory measure with no legal authority to require the money to go to children's programs.

Solano County and the city of Dixon are asking a majority of the voters to approve a license tax of up to 15 percent on annual gross receipts of marijuana business revenues in their jurisdictions. It would take effect
Jan. 1, 2018 in the county and in Dixon 10 days after it is declared passed.

The Solano County Tax Payers Association opposes both the county's Measure C and Dixon's Measure K marijuana tax measures. They say the Board of Supervisors has not identified how they will spend the tax money, and the county and Dixon are "taking money from sick people to line their own pockets."

Proponents of Measure K say if voters approve state Proposition 64 to legalize recreational marijuana, Dixon needs a system in place to tax medical and recreational marijuana should such businesses be allowed in the
city. The money could go to public safety, parks, libraries, youth programs and public works, according to proponents.

Vacaville, Fairfield, Vallejo, Suisun City and Rio Vista are seeking sales or general tax revenue for essential city services. The measures need the approval of a majority of the voters.

Vacaville wants voters to renew a three-quarter-cent sales tax for 20 years to raise $14.7 million annually. Rio Vista wants to continue a three-quarter-cent general city services tax for five years that will raise $784,000 a year.

Fairfield officials are asking for a renewal of a 1 percent sales tax for 15 years that will raise $16 million annually and Suisun City asks voters to enact a 1 percent sales tax for 10 years that will provide $1.8
million a year.

Vallejo officials want to renew a 1 percent sales tax to raise $14 million a year. The existing tax will expire on March 31, 2022, unless voters approve Vallejo's Measure V extension of the tax. Measure V does not include
a new sunset date for the tax.

Dixon Unified School District's Measure Q, a $30.4 million bond measure, and Winters Joint Unified School District's Measure D, a $17 million bond measure, need 55 percent approval.

Measure H, the Davis Joint Unified School District's $620 annual parcel tax for eight years, needs two-thirds approval. It would raise $9.5 million a year.

Related: Solano Co. Voters Must Decide Supe Seat, 5 Council, 3 Mayoral Races On Ballot

Also see:

• Letter To Editor: Mariko Yamada Is Correct Choice For CA State Senator, District 3
• Letter To Editor: Congressman Thompson Supports Dodd For State Senate
• Benicia Mayor Writes: Here Is My Choice For State Senator
• Letter to Editor: Former Assemblywoman, Supervisor Says District 3 Needs Bill Dodd As State Senator
• Reader Writes: Corporate Democrat vs. Social Democrat: Mariko Yamada vs. Bill Dodd
• Napa Resident Writes: Vote Yamada For Farm, Elder, Environment Protection

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