Author: Josh Altic
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Fresno court upholds supermajority requirement for citizen-initiated special taxes, says issue could be decided by state supreme court
On September 5, 2019, Judge Kimberly Gaab ruled that Fresno Measure P was defeated because it required a two-thirds vote for approval. Gaab had previously stated that the cases surrounding this issue were likely to be decided by the California Supreme Court, superseding her decision. Measure P was designed to enact a 0.375% sales tax…
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A handful of South Dakota voters once decided school start dates for the entire state; now local boards or local voters choose
In 1985, by a margin of 282 votes (0.1%), South Dakota voters approved a citizen initiative—Initiative 2—requiring public schools to start the school year after Labor Day. In 1993, the state legislature altered Initiative 2 and repealed the requirement that the school year start no earlier than the first Tuesday after the first Monday…
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Colorado voters to consider the national popular vote compact in 2020 through first successful Colorado veto referendum petition since 1932
On Thursday, the secretary of state certified the Colorado National Popular Vote veto referendum for the November 2020 ballot. Voters will decide whether they want to give Colorado’s nine electoral votes to the presidential candidate that receives the most votes nationwide or continue to give them to the candidate that wins the most votes in…
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$1.7 million raised by campaigns for and against Phoenix pension and light rail initiatives ahead of Aug. 27 special election
On August 27, Phoenix voters will decide Proposition 105 and Proposition 106 in a special election. If approved, Proposition 105 would end construction of light rail extensions and redirect funds to infrastructure improvements in Phoenix. Building a Better Phoenix sponsored the initiative and argued, “Phoenix taxpayers are wasting BILLIONS on light rail expansion at…
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Proponents of 2020 California split-roll property tax initiative start over with revised version
In California, Schools & Communities First announced that it would file a new version of an initiative to require commercial and industrial properties, except those zoned as commercial agriculture, to be taxed based on their market value. Currently, Proposition 13 (1978) requires the taxable value of residential, commercial, and industrial properties to be based on…
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Judge dismisses GOP petition challenge, leaving the Tucson sanctuary city initiative on the November ballot
On Friday, Pima County Superior Court Judge Douglas Metcalf rejected a lawsuit challenging the initiative signature petition for Tucson’s sanctuary city initiative. The ruling means the initiative will remain on the city’s November 5 ballot after being officially certified on August 6. If the initiative is approved, Tucson would become the first sanctuary city in…
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Tucson sanctuary city initiative officially certified for the November 2019 ballot
The Tucson City Council voted Tuesday to put an initiative on the November 2019 ballot that would enact sanctuary city policies in the city’s code. If the mayor and city council had approved the measure, it would have become law without an election. If the initiative is approved, Tucson would become the first…
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Nashville voters approve two charter amendments
On August 1, over 80% of Nashville voters approved both charter amendments on their ballots. Amendment 1 will require the mayor to annually submit additional information to the city council concerning the city’s budget, department performance and efficiency, city debt, and authorized bonds. Amendment 2 amended the charter to say that metro education…
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Early voting runs July 31-Aug. 23 for Phoenix initiatives on light rail expansion and pensions
Phoenix voters can cast a ballot for the city’s August 27 special ballot initiative election at city hall or through a mail-in ballot during the early voting phase from July 31 through August 23. Two citizen initiatives proposing amendments to the city charter are on the ballot for the election. Proposition 105 would do…
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New York City 2019 Charter Revision Commission puts 19 proposals on the November ballot, including ranked-choice voting
On July 24, the 2019 New York City Charter Revision Commission gave final approval to 19 proposals grouped into five separate ballot questions. Voters will decide in favor or against all proposals grouped within a question together. The questions must now be sent to the city clerk before August 5 for inclusion on the November…