Measure Z - History
Before November 2014 Election
Many steps were taken before placing Measure Z on the November 2014 ballot. The information below takes you step by step through the process of how community members brought Measure Z to the Board for consideration, the Board's analysis and ultimately the decision to place the measure on the ballot.
Community Concerns - May 6, 2014
At the May 6, 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting, there was a public discussion about the community's concerns related to funding law enforcement and public safety in the county. The Board was asked to begin a community dialogue to foster ideas and solutions to help address funding issues related to law enforcement and public safety throughout the county.
Watch the full discussion below.
Revenue Options - May 20, 2014
At the May 20, 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board heard a report from the County Administrative Officer regarding possibilities for generating revenues locally to fund public safety and other services, including:
- Possible revenue sources and levels
- How revenues might be allocated
- The process and timeline for placing a measure on the ballot
- A budget request to fund outreach and polling to ensure the best likelihood of success."
After hearing the report, the Board approved a motion to provide polling on the likelihood of passage of two possible local revenue measures:
- A Utility User Tax of 3%, with an Excessive Energy Use Tax of 45% on users at 600% above baseline, as a general tax with an advisory committee.
- A sales tax of .75% as a general tax with an advisory committee.
Watch the full discussion below.
Update to Board - June 24, 2014
At the June 24, 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board received a report from the County Administrative Officer regarding updated information on a potential County tax measure for the Nov. 4, 2014, election.
The update to the Board was that during the polling process and research it has been discovered that currently state law prohibits tax measures only apply to unincorporated area, the sales tax will have to apply county-wide. County Counsel and the County Administrative Office have been working to find other options and will come back with an update at the polling results at July 8 meeting.
Watch the full discussion below.
Polling Results - July 8, 2014
At the July 8, 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board received a report from the County Administrative Officer regarding the polling results and updated information on a potential County tax measure for the November 4, 2014, election.
A motion was made by the Board to direct staff to return on July 15 with ordinance language to place a general-purpose local revenue measure on the ballot for Nov. 4, 2014, which is to include the following language:
- A local sales tax at a rate of 0.5 percent levied throughout the County
- A five-year sunset clause
- An advisory committee on expenditure of funds derived from the tax imposed by the measure on resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
In addition, the Board approved entering into a contract with a consultant to assist staff in providing legally permissible, factual information about the ballot measure to the community.
Watch the full discussion below.
Ballot Measure Statement and Ordinance Reading - July 15, 2014
At the July 15, 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board received a report from the County Administrative Officer about ordinance language to place a general-purpose local revenue measure on the ballot for Nov. 4, 2014. The proposed language for a ballot measure, states:
MEASURE _____, Humboldt County Public Safety/Essential Services Measure. To maintain/improve essential services, such as 24-hour sheriff's patrols; 9-1-1 emergency response; crime investigation/prosecution; drug/illegal marijuana grow house enforcement/prevention; services for abused children/mentally ill; rural fire protection; road repairs; and other County services, shall County of Humboldt pursuant to County Ordinance No. _____ enact a 1/2% sales tax, for five years, all revenue for the County, none for the State of California, with annual audits and public review?
Watch the full discussion below.
Approval of Ordinance - July 22, 2014
At the July 22, 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board heard a report from the County Administrative Officer regarding the approval of the Ordinance relating to the imposition of a transactions and use tax to be administered by the State Board of Equalization and resolution placing the Humboldt County Transactions and Use Tax on the Nov. 2014 Ballot for Voter Approval.
Watch the full discussion below.
After the 2014 Election
Measure Z passed in the Nov. 4 election, with 55.95% of Humboldt County voters voting yes on the tax. Below are the steps and significant challenges involved in ensuring the Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Measure Z Expenditures fully considers expenditure priorities aligned with voter intent, along with new community priorities that may emerge over the five-year life of the countywide local sales tax.
Unofficial Results - Nov. 14, 2014
At the Nov. 14, 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board received a report from the County Administrative Officer regarding unofficial results of the countywide vote on Measure Z. The unofficial results show that Measure Z will be passed by the voters and the vote was certified on Dec. 2, 2014 by the Board. There are still many step needed to be completed before the County can use any of the funds, some of the steps still needed are:
- Sign a contract with the California Board of Equalization (BOE) to collect the sales tax on behalf of the county.
- Establish an Advisory Committee that will make recommendations to the Board on expenditures.
Once the contract is signed, the BOE will start collecting the tax on April 1, 2015 and it will be distributed to the county in June 2015. At the next Board of Supervisors meeting, the County Administrative Office will give the Board some options on how to structure the Advisory Committee and how they will pick representatives.
Watch the meeting below.
Establishing Advisory Committee - Dec. 2, 2014
At the Dec. 2, 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board discussed composition of a citizens' advisory committee on expenditure of funds derived from the countywide local sales tax imposed pursuant to Measure Z. The Board approved staff to come back with a resolution establishing a Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Measure Z Expenditures, to be comprised of 9 total members as follows:
- Five (5) members to be appointed at the pleasure of each individual District Supervisor
- Two (2) at large members to be appointed at the pleasure of the majority of the board
- Two (2) additional voting members – one from the Fire Chiefs and one from the Sheriff
- Two alternates appointed at the pleasure of the Board
Each member of the committee will be appointed for a term of 4 years at the pleasure of the board with the terms being staggered. In addition, staff is directed to return with a revised application to include a question asking about the applicant’s experience with public agency budgets.
Watch the meeting below.
Resolution Establishing Advisory Committee - Dec. 16, 2014
At the Dec. 16, 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board approved, on the consent calendar, the Resolution establishing the Citizen's Advisory Committee on Measure Z.
Watch the meeting below.
Agreements with the Board of Equalization - Jan. 13, 2015
At the Jan. 13, 2015 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board approved, on the consent calendar, the Agreements with the Board of Equalization Resolution for the administration of Measure Z.
On November 4, 2014 Humboldt County voters passed a local sales tax Measure Z, which imposes a .5% local sales tax countywide. In order for the county to begin to collect the 5% sales tax, the Board of Equalization (BOE) requires the county to enter into two agreements:
- The first agreement is for the Preparation to Administer and Operate District's Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance and entails the following:
- The BOE will prepare to administer and operate a transactions and use tax which has been approved by a majority of the electors in the county and whose ordinance has been adopted by the county.
- The county agrees to pay the BOE for all of the BOE's costs for preparatory work necessary to administer the county's transactions and use tax ordinance.
- The second agreement is the State Administration of District Transaction and Use Taxes and entails the following:
- BOE and county agree that the BOE shall perform exclusively all functions incident to the administration and operation of the county's ordinance.
- BOE will collect the voter approved sales tax, for the period during which the tax is in effect, and will transmit these funds to the county as promptly as feasible, but not less often than twice in each calendar quarter.
Approval of these agreements effectuates the necessary administrative processes that need to occur in order for the BOE to begin to collect and transmit to the county the 5% sales tax approved by voters on April 1, 2015.
Watch the meeting below.
Appointment of the Advisory Committee Seats - Jan. 20, 2015
At the Jan. 20, 2015 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board discussed and appointed members to the Measure Z Citizens' Advisory Committee on Measure Z Expenditures. During this discussion the board appointed the following members to the Advisory Committee:
- Fire Chiefs Association Appointment: Brian Anderson of the Redway Fire District
- Sheriff's Department Appointment: Sheriff Michael Downey
- At-Large Positions: Adam Jager and Lora Canzoneri
- Alternate Positions: Glenn Ziemer and John McFarland
Earlier in the meeting, the Board members announced their appointments to the Advisory Committee being:
- District 1 Appointment: Jonathan Flyer
- District 2 Appointment: Shon Wellborn
- District 3 Appointment: Ginger Campbell
- District 4 Appointment: Mike Newman
- District 5 Appointment: Helen Edwards
Watch the meeting and discussion below.
Renewal of Measure Z
In the three years since its establishment, Measure Z funded more than 70 new public safety projects, distributed nearly $34 million, and supported close to 60 agencies throughout the county. As the tax was scheduled to expire in March 2020, the Board approved funding for independent public research to assess voter interest in renewing Measure Z. The information below takes you step by step through the process of how Measure Z renewal, which was names Measure O, was place on the Nov. 2017 ballot.
Voter Consideration to Renew Measure Z - July 10, 2018
At the July 10, 2018 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board received a report from the County Administrative Office regarding the polling results on a potential measure renewing Measure Z.
The polling took place in April 2018 with roughly 500 interviews with Nov. 2018 voters in Humboldt County via landline and cell phones. The conclusions from the polling were:
- Nearly four in five believe there is at least "some need" for additional County funding.
- A measure renewing the County's existing voter-approved local revenue measure with no rate increase is potentially viable for November 2018.
- Top funding priorities for a no-increase renewal measure continue to center on public safety, including 911 response times, rural ambulances, 24-hour sheriffs deputies on duty and youth mental health and victim services.
- Top concerns include hard drugs and illegal camping, followed by pocketbook concerns like healthcare and housing costs.
The Board approved for the County Administrative Office to return to your Board on July 24 for introduction of an ordinance modifying Chapter 8, Division 1 of Title VII of the Humboldt County Code related to renewal of Measure Z's sales and use tax.
Watch the meeting below.
Ballot Statement and Ordinance - July 24, 2018
At the July 24, 2018 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board received a report from the County Administrative Office about renewing Measure Z placing a ballot measure on the ballot for Nov. 6, 2018. The proposed language for a ballot measure, states:
MEASURE _____ , Humboldt County Public Safety/Essential Services Renewal Measure. To maintain essential services including 911 emergency response/rural ambulance/fire protection; ensuring 24-hour sheriffs patrols; providing children's mental health/victims of child abuse services; emergency communications systems; repairing deteriorating roads; and other essential general services, shall a measure to renew the existing 1/2-cent sales tax, generating approximately $12,000,000 annually until ended by voters, with annual audits/citizen oversight, no Increase In tax rate, be adopted?
Along with the ballot measure, the Board approved ordinance language to modify Chapter 8, Division 1 of Title VIII of the Humboldt County Code related to the renewal of Measure Z's sales and use tax. Of note, the attached ordinance does not raise current tax rates, removes the current termination date of March 31, 2020 to keep the tax and expected revenue in place until ended by voters, and retains the current citizens' advisory committee structure related to expenditures of revenues generated by the measure.
Watch the full discussion below.
Approval of Ordinance - July 31, 2018
At the July 31, 2018 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board approved, on the consent calendar, which included the adoption of Ordinance Relating to the Renewal of Measure Z and resolution placing the renewal measure on the November 2018 ballot for voter approval.
Watch the full discussion below.
Certification of Election Results - Dec 11, 2018
At the Dec 11, 2018 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board approved, on the consent calendar, which certified the result of Nov. 6, 2018 election. During this election Measure O (the renewal of Measure Z) was passed with 73.87% of voters voting "yes" for the measure.
Watch the full discussion below.
Learn More
Each year the Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Measure Z Expenditures is tasked with receiving public input and recommending projects, programs or activities to be funded by the Board with revenue from Measure Z. Following the committee's recommendations, the Board of Supervisors has approved a multi-year spending plan that allocates ongoing funding to several county departments and partner agencies. In addition, the committee also uses an application process to develop recommendations for one-time awards.
Learn about the past recipients of Measure Z funds and see how the funds were used to maintain and improve services for roads, law enforcement, behavioral health intervention, prosecution, probation, indigent defense and more.