Caltrain, California, Proposition RR, Rail Service Tax (November 2020)
| Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers District Proposition RR | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 3, 2020 | |
| Topic Local sales tax and District tax | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Referral | Origin Lawmakers |
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board District Proposition RR was on the ballot as a referral in Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board District on November 3, 2020. It was approved.
A “yes” vote supported authorizing an additional sales tax of 0.125% for 30 years generating an estimated $100 million per year for the Caltrain rail service, thereby increasing the total sales tax rate in San Francisco from 8.5% to 8.625%. |
A “no” vote opposed authorizing an additional sales tax of 0.125% generating an estimated $100 million per year for 30 years with funds dedicated to the Caltrain rail service, thereby leaving the existing total sales tax rate in San Francisco at 8.5%. |
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Proposition RR.
Election results
|
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board District Proposition RR |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
1,077,657 | 69.09% | ||
| No | 482,151 | 30.91% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ | To preserve Caltrain service and support regional economic recovery, prevent traffic congestion, make Caltrain more affordable and accessible, reduce air pollution with cleaner and quieter electric trains, make travel times faster, and increase Caltrain frequency and capacity between Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Francisco counties, shall the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board's resolution levying a 30-year one-eighth cent sales tax with oversight and audits, providing approximately $100 million annually for Caltrain that the State cannot take away, be adopted?[2] | ” |
Ballot simplification digest
The following summary of the measure was prepared by Santa Clara County Counsel:
| “ | The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB or Caltrain) has placed Measure RR on the ballot, which would authorize a retail transactions and use tax (sales tax) of 0.125 percent (one-eighth cent) in the Counties of Santa Clara and San Mateo and the City and County of San Francisco (collectively 'the Counties') for a period of thirty (30) years, estimated to raise approximately $100 million per year. The JPB is authorized to place Measure RR on the ballot under Section 7286.65 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code. Prior to placement on the ballot, submission of the measure to the voters was approved by the Boards of Supervisors for the three Counties and the governing boards of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA).
Currently, Caltrain is primarily funded through passenger fares. Additional funding for Caltrain comes from member agency contributions from VTA, SamTrans, and SFMTA. The stated purpose of the sales tax is to establish a new, dedicated source of revenue to fund the operating and capital expenses of the Caltrain rail service, and for no other purposes. As stated in the full text of Measure RR, the tax proceeds from the measure will be prioritized as follows: 1. To support the operation of Caltrain service levels throughout the corridor from San Francisco to Gilroy; 2. To support the expansion of Caltrain peak hour service from six trains per hour per direction to eight trains per hour per direction, as well as the expansion of the Gilroy service to a minimum of five morning and five afternoon trains; 3. To develop and implement programs to expand access to Caltrain service and facilitate use of the system by passengers of all income levels; 4. To help leverage other local, regional, state and federal investments to advance capital projects necessary to implement the Caltrain Business Plan’s 2040 Service Vision, adopted by Caltrain on October 3, 2019; and 5. To provide Caltrain with a steady stream of funding to support the annual operating, maintenance and capital needs of an electrified Caltrain service with increased frequency and capacity. The tax will be administered and collected by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. An independent citizens’ oversight committee will review the administration of the proceeds of the sales tax. A 'yes' vote is a vote to approve a sales tax of 0.125% within the Counties for thirty years. A 'no' vote is a vote to not approve the sales tax. If at least two-thirds of all voters casting ballots vote 'yes' on Measure RR, the sales tax will be approved.[2] |
” |
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
- San Francisco Democratic Party[3]
- Bay Area Council[3]
- League Of Women Voters Of San Francisco[3]
- League Of Women Voters Of The Bay Area[3]
- San Francisco Chamber Of Commerce[3]
- San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs’ Association[3]
- San Francisco League Of Conservation Voters[3]
- San Francisco Women's Political Committee[3]
- Sierra Club (California)[3]
- SEIU Local 1021[3]
- San Francisco Labor Council[3]
Opposition
Opponents
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on August 7, 2020, in an 11-0 vote.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 San Francisco Elections Office, "Qualified Local and District Measures," accessed October 12, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 California Choices, "San Francisco Ballot Endorsements," accessed October 20, 2020
 |
State of California Sacramento (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
