City Council Takes Action on Two Potential State Ballot Measures
March 23, 2022 4:50 PM
At last night’s meeting, the Santa Monica City Council voted unanimously to oppose the “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act,” a proposed California ballot initiative co-sponsored by the California Business Roundtable. The measure would make changes to the rules for how the state and local governments can impose taxes and fees, making it harder for governments and municipalities to administer local taxes and fees. It would limit the ability to bring forward citizen initiatives, and potentially substantially lower state and local revenues.
The measure has been opposed by a broad coalition of public safety, labor, local government, and infrastructure groups including a number of cities across the state, as it would jeopardize cities’ ability to provide vital services and critical infrastructure to residents.
During the same meeting, the Council voted unanimously to support “The Arts and Music In Schools – Funding Guarantee Accountability Act,” a proposed California ballot initiative co-sponsored by Californians for Arts and Music Education in Public Schools. The measure would require the state legislature to direct at least $800 million in state funds to support arts and music programs in all California public schools, without raising taxes, including transparency and equity measures in the allocation of funding.
Both initiatives must garner enough signatures to be placed on the November 2022 ballot.
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