City of Berkeley Special Parks Parcel Tax, Measure F
This 2014 measure authorized the City to increase the special parks tax from an annual $0.1256 per square foot to $0.1466 per square foot. This resulted in an approximate 17% increase in the Parks Tax. Measure F also allowed the tax to adjust with inflation, allowing the use of either CPI (C Percent Increase or PIG (Personal Income Growth).
The language on the ballot was following:
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"Shall the parks special tax be amended to sustain community parks like the Rose Garden, children’s playgrounds, tennis, basketball courts, and ball fields, by increasing the per square foot tax rate from $0.1256 to $0.1466 and adding an inflation factor?
Financial Implications
The annual cost increase in fiscal year 2016 would be $39.90, from $238.64 to $278.54, for a 1,900 square foot home and $210, from $1256.00 to $1466.00, for a 10,000 square foot building. ”
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A two-thirds supermajority vote was required for the approval of Measure F.
The Measure passed with an overwhelming 75% approval rate.
The annual cost increase in fiscal year 2016 would be $39.90, from $238.64 to $278.54, for a 1,900 square foot home and $210, from $1256.00 to $1466.00, for a 10,000 square foot building.
Measure F
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Result
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Votes
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Percentage
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Yes
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27,573
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75.08%
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No
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9,151
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24.92%
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This measure resulted in an additional $1.7 M in Parks Tax revenue starting in FY2016. The funds were allocated in the following manner:
$750,000 Capital Projects
$450,000 Minor Maintenance Projects
$500,000 Structural Deficit for existing staff and operations