Humboldt County, CA Ballot

Proposition 1A Class Size Reduction Kindergarten- University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 1998.
4,886,570 / 62.5% Yes votes ...... 2,934,131 / 37.5% No votes: This nine billion two hundred million dollar ($9,200,000,000) bond issue will provide funding for necessary education facilities for at least four years for class size reduction, to relieve overcrowding and accommodate student enrollment growth and to repair older schools and for wiring and cabling for education technology. Funds will also be used to upgrade and build new classrooms in community colleges, the California State University, and the University of California. These bonds may be used only for eligible construction projects. Fiscal Impact: State cost of about $15.2 billion to pay off both the principal ($9.2 billion) and interest ($6 billion) on the bonds. The average payment for principal and interest over 25 years would be about $600 million per year. State cost of $160 million to offset all or part of school-related development fees borne by certain homebuyers and renters.
Proposition 1 Property Taxes: Contaminated Property.
5,366,159 / 71.1% Yes votes ...... 2,185,831 / 28.9% No votes: Amends article XIII A of the Constitution, added by Proposition 13, to allow repair or replacement of environmentally-contaminated property or structures without increasing the tax valuation of original or replacement property. Fiscal Impact: Property tax revenue losses probably less than $1 million annually in the near term to schools, counties, cities, and special districts. School revenue losses (about half of total) would be made up by the state.
Proposition 2 Transportation: Funding.
5,519,390 / 75.4% Yes votes ...... 1,801,685 / 24.6% No votes: Imposes repayment conditions on loans of transportation revenues to the General Fund and local entities. Designates local transportation funds as trust funds and requires a transportation purpose for their use. Fiscal Impact: Not likely to have any fiscal impact on state and local governments.
Proposition 3 Partisan Presidential Primary Elections.
3,424,127 / 46.1% Yes votes ...... 3,994,091 / 53.9% No votes: Changes existing open primary law to require closed, partisan primary for purposes of selecting delegates to national political party presidential nominating conventions. Limits voting for such delegates to voters registered by political party. Provides partisan ballots to be voted only by members of the particular party. Fiscal Impact: Minor costs to state and county governments statewide.
Proposition 4 Trapping Practices. Bans Use of Specified Traps and Animal Poisons.
4,485,030 / 57.5% Yes votes ...... 3,324,133 / 42.5% No votes: Prohibits trapping fur-bearing or nongame mammals with specified traps. Prohibits commerce in fur of animals so trapped. Generally prohibits steel-jawed leghold traps on mammals. Prohibits use of specified poisons on animals. Fiscal Impact: Unknown state and local costs of several hundred thousand to in the range of a couple of million dollars annually, depending on workload and effectiveness of alternative trapping methods.
Proposition 5 Tribal-State Gaming Compacts. Tribal Casinos.
5,090,452 / 62.4% Yes votes ...... 3,070,358 / 37.6% No votes: Specifies terms and conditions of mandatory compact between state and Indian tribes for gambling on tribal land. Allows slot machines and banked card games at tribal casinos. Fiscal Impact: Uncertain impact on state and local revenues, depending on the growth in gambling on Indian lands in California. Effect could range from little impact to significant annual revenue increases.
Proposition 6 Criminal Law. Prohibition on Slaughter of Horses and Sale of Horsemeat for Human Consumption.
4,670,524 / 59.4% Yes votes ...... 3,194,570 / 40.6% No votes: Makes possession, transfer, or receipt of horses for slaughter for human consumption a felony. Makes sale of horsemeat for human consumption a misdemeanor. Fiscal Impact: Probably minor, if any, law enforcement and incarceration costs.
Proposition 7 Air Quality Improvement. Tax Credits.
3,313,816 / 43.6% Yes votes ...... 4,282,557 / 56.4% No votes: Authorizes $218 million in state tax credits annually, until January 2011, to encourage air-emissions reductions through the acquisition, conversion, and retrofitting of vehicles and equipment. Fiscal Impact: Annual state revenue loss averaging tens of millions to over a hundred million dollars, to beyond 2010. Annually, through 2010-11: state cost of about $4.7 million; additional local revenues, potentially in the millions of dollars. Potential unknown long-term savings.
Proposition 8 Public Schools. Permanent Class Size Reduction. Parent-Teacher Councils. Teacher Credentialing. Pupil Suspension for Drug Possession. Chief Inspector's Office.
2,913,430 / 36.8% Yes votes ...... 4,989,466 / 63.2% No votes: Permanent class size reduction funding for districts establishing parent-teacher councils. Requires testing for teacher credentialing; pupil suspension for drug possession. Fiscal Impact: Creates up to $60 million in new state programs, offset in part by existing funds and fees. Local school districts' costs potentially in the high tens of millions of dollars annually.
Proposition 9 Electric Utilities. Assessments. Bonds.
2,064,623 / 26.5% Yes votes ...... 5,710,140 / 73.5% No votes: Prohibits assessment of taxes, bonds, surcharges to pay costs of nuclear power plants. Limits recovery by electric companies for costs of non-nuclear power plants. Prohibits issuance of rate reduction bonds. Fiscal Impact: State government net revenue reductions potentially in the high tens of millions of dollars annually through 2001-02. Local government net revenue reductions potentially in the tens of millions of dollars annually through 2001-02.
Proposition 10 State and County Early Childhood Development Programs. Additional Tobacco Surtax.
4,042,466 / 50.5% Yes votes ...... 3,962,738 / 49.5% No votes: Creates state and county commissions to establish early childhood development and smoking prevention programs. Imposes additional taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products. Fiscal Impact: New revenues and expenditures of $400 million in 1998-99 and $750 million annually. Reduced revenues for Proposition 99 programs of $18 million in 1998-99 and $7 million annually. Other minor revenue increases and potential unknown savings.
Proposition 11 Local Sales and Use Taxes-- Revenue Sharing
3,896,675 / 53.4% Yes votes ...... 3,408,640 / 46.6% No votes: This measure would authorize local governments to voluntarily enter into sales tax revenue sharing agreements by a two-thirds vote of the local city council or board of supervisors of each participating jurisdiction. Fiscal Impact: No net change in total sales tax revenues going to cities and counties. Potential shift of sales tax revenues among cities and counties.

Local Measures

Measure C Bond Measure -- Arcata Elementary School District
3739 / 83.98% Yes votes ...... 713 / 16.02% No votes

To provide funding to repair and modernize aging facilities and infrastructure at all school sites, including inadequate electrical and plumbing systems; to upgrade classrooms, restrooms and lunch facilities; to replace the deteriorating roof of the middle school; and to comply with state and federal standards to meet the needs of children with disabilities, shall the Arcata Elementary School District incur bonded indebtedness in the amount of $5,400,000 at an interest rate within the legal limit, to be used for the above purposes?

Measure D Bond Measure -- South Bay Union School District
1434 / 71.34% Yes votes ...... 576 / 28.66% No votes

To repair and modernize aging schools, remove safety hazards, and help reduce class size, shall the South Bay School District incur bonded indebtedness of $1,500,000 at interest rates within legal limits, for purposes including: Modernizing schools for computer technology; Removing asbestos; Replacing leaky roofs, broken heating systems; and deteriorating walls, restrooms, and flooring; Constructing new classrooms/facilities, a school library, and community center; Upgrading security and fire alarms.

No bonds funds will be used for administrative personnel.

Measure E Utility Users Tax -- City of Rio Dell (City Ordinance)
340 / 44.80% Yes votes ...... 419 / 55.20% No votes

Shall the City of Rio Dell adopt Ordinance Number 234, enacting a utility users tax of seven percent (7%) on residential customers and two percent (2%) on commercial customers?

Measure F Democracy and Corporations -- City of Arcata (Advisory Initiative)
3193 / 60.83% Yes votes ...... 2056 / 39.17% No votes

Shall the City Council: (1) co-sponsor two town hall meetings on the topic, "Can we have democracy when large corporations wield so much power and wealth under law?" (2) create a committee to recommend the adoption of policies and programs in regard to Democracy and Corporations, and (3) forward copies of the ballot measure to all elected representatives at the county, state and federal levels, as well as to the press?

Measure G Bed Tax Rate -- City of Fortuna
1328 / 48.75% Yes votes ...... 1396 / 51.25% No votes

Shall the City of Fortuna Municipal Code Number
3.12.030, the currently assessed transient occupancy tax (bed tax for motels and RV parks) of eight percent (8%) be amended to allow the City to increase such tax up to a maximum of ten percent (10%)?

Humboldt Home Page || Statewide Links || About Smart Voter || Feedback

Data Created: February 16, 1999 18:57
Smart Voter '98 <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © 1998 League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.