Oakdale, California, Measure C, Marijuana Business Tax (November 2018)

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Local ballot measure elections in 2018
Measure C: Oakdale Marijuana Business Tax
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The basics
Election date:
November 6, 2018
Status:
Approveda Approved
Topic:
Local marijuana tax
Related articles
Local marijuana tax on the ballot
November 6, 2018 ballot measures in California
Stanislaus County, California ballot measures
City tax on the ballot
See also
Oakdale, California

A marijuana business tax was on the ballot for Oakdale voters in Stanislaus County, California, on November 6, 2018. It was approved.

A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the levy of a tax on marijuana businesses at the rate of up to 15 percent of gross receipts.
A no vote was a vote against authorizing the levy of a tax on marijuana businesses at the rate of up to 15 percent of gross receipts.

Election results

Oakdale, California, Measure C, Marijuana Business Tax (November 2018)

Result Votes Percentage

Approved Yes

5,242 69.69%
No 2,280 30.31%
Results are officially certified.
Source

Text of measure

Ballot question

The ballot question was as follows:[1]

Shall the measure adopting an ordinance authorizing the City Council of the City of Oakdale to impose a business license tax at a rate of up to fifteen percent (15%) of gross receipts on cannabis businesses and dispensaries, to help fund general municipal services, be adopted?[2]

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Oakdale City Attorney:

Measure C has been placed on the ballot by the Oakdale City Council. Measure C, if approved, would authorize the City Council to impose a business license tax of up to fifteen percent (15%) of the gross receipts of any cannabis-related business.

The legalization of cannabis for recreational or other nonmedicinal use was approved by California voters at the November 8, 2016, statewide election. On November 20, 2017, the City adopted Ordinance 1251 amending the City’s Municipal Code to permit commercial cannabis activity in the City within specified zoning districts, subject to obtaining a development agreement and major use permit from the City. The City’s cannabis ordinance authorizes commercial cannabis cultivation, dispensaries, manufacturing, and testing laboratories.

If Measure C is adopted by the City’s voters on November 6, 2018, the City Council will be authorized, but not required, to impose a business license tax on cannabis businesses. Cannabis businesses include all entities engaged in the commercial cultivation, distribution, and exchange of cannabis, whether for medicinal or non-medicinal reasons. The tax would not apply to those cannabis businesses that have entered into a development agreement with the City.

Measure C also authorizes the City Manager to establish procedures for collecting tax and authorizes the Finance Director to audit any business engaged in commercial cannabis activity. The City will also establish penalties and fines to enforce the payment of the cannabis business license taxes.

The proposed cannabis business license tax is a general tax because the revenues would be deposited into the City’s general fund for general municipal services, such as improving the City’s streets and sidewalks, and funding public safety services. Under the California Constitution, general taxes must be approved by a majority vote of the City’s electorate.

A 'YES' vote, by a majority of the voters, would approve proposed amendments to the Oakdale Municipal Code to establish a business license tax of up to 15% of the gross receipts of a cannabis business in Oakdale.

A 'NO' vote would disapprove proposed amendments to the Oakdale Municipal Code to authorize the City Council to establish a business license tax of up to 15% to be paid by an authorized cannabis business in Oakdale.[2]

—Oakdale City Attorney[3]

Full text

The full text of the measure is available here.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Oakdale, California.

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Voter's Edge, "Measure C," accessed October 19, 2018
  2. 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. Stanislaus County, "Sample Ballot and Voter Information Guide," accessed October 19, 2018