SF voters asked in 2 measures to approve sales tax for transportation, homelessness
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)— San Francisco voters calling for the city to improve transit and take action on homelessness are being asked to put their money where their mouth is by approving a three-quarter-cent sales tax increase.
Propositions J and K on the November 8 ballot are being promoted as companion measures: K is a sales tax increase expected to generate a little more than $150 million a year in general fund revenue, while J creates two new budget set-asides, the Homeless Housing and Services Fund and the Transportation Fund.
Proposition J requires the city to set aside around $50 million in the first full year for the homeless services fund, to be used for services to the homeless including long-term housing and programs, and just over $101 million for transportation. Those amounts would be adjusted in subsequent years based on changes in city revenues.
The measures, which have the backing of Mayor Ed Lee, have drawn together a political coalition that includes many transit, bicycle and pedestrian advocates and homeless advocates.
Speaking at a campaign kickoff event on Wednesday, Lee said the measures would provide a "steady stream of $150 million."
"It's important that we have this combined because that will dedicate these sustainable funds to transportation and to helping people get off the streets," Lee said. "Those are two of the most important things that we have to do in this city."
Opponents, including the transit group Save Muni, have decried the measures as "cynical and deceptive" at best and possibly illegal.
Save Muni has said that Proposition J violates state law prohibiting ballot measures to include more than one subject.
Perhaps more importantly, opponents say proponents of the measures have found a way around state laws requiring sales tax measures for specific purposes to pass by a two-thirds vote.
Because Proposition K only dedicates the new tax revenue to general fund use, leaving the details of how it will be allocated to the separate Proposition J, it only requires a simply majority to pass. And yet the two measures are being promoted jointly in campaign materials.
"For transparency and honesty, Prop J & K could have been combined as a single ballot measure that requires a two-thirds vote," Save Muni said in a statement issued Wednesday. "But as cynical and deceptive measures, Prop J & K deserve to be rejected by voters."
Save Muni, a group that is frequently critical of the San
Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's management, also argues that
Measure J is deceptive in that it only dedicates 12.4 percent of the transportation fund to Muni service and affordability and another 18.8 percent to fleet, facilities and infrastructure repair and improvement.
More than 32 percent of the funds are targeted for street resurfacing.
Opponents have also described the sales tax measure as regressive, saying it would disproportionately hurt low-income families.