Measure V is a general tax measure, which requires a majority vote to pass. But critics say it’s an end run around the California Constitution because the city council also placed three non-binding advisory measures on the ballot.
Measures S, T and U ask voters whether to direct any new sales tax revenues to public safety, libraries and other services. Bill Long with the Yolo County Taxpayers Association says that makes voters think Measure V is a special tax measure, which requires a two-thirds vote.
Long: “The way it was crafted is not straightforward and is not honest. And if they really believe these issues should be supported, then they should be specifically on the ballot as a special tax.”
Woodland City Manager Mark Deven says the city council purposefully made Measure V a general tax measure because it would be easier to pass. But he says council members still wanted to give the public a say in how the new revenues would be spent.
Deven: “Therefore, if we were to go forward with this general sales tax measure, we wanted to have some advisory measures along with that, that gave the public the assurance that the money would be allocated to the highest priority services.”
Deven says Measure V’s increased sales tax revenues would help fill Woodland’s $5.8 million budget deficit, including saving police and fire fighter jobs and keeping the Woodland Public Library open.