AC Transit 2008 Parcel Tax Background and Basics
History
Parcel Tax Language:
Resolution by AC Transit Board Members to Keep Fares Affordable if the Parcel Tax Passes:
NOW THEREFORE, the Board of Directors of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit
District does resolve as follows:
Section 1. It reconfirms its commitment contained in Resolution No. 2141 to
keep any increases for youth, seniors and the disabled discounted at a rate below any
discounts required for these groups by any provision of federal or state law, to wit:
AC transit is facing a cut of $19 million from the Governor’s May budget revise. In addition, rising fuel and health care costs are putting in
creasing pressure on AC Transit’s budget. More importantly, AC transit, and bus service for low income communities, communities of color and the transit-dependent across the Bay Area, face chronic operating shortfalls as a result of racist, classist and pro-developer funding decisions made by the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization known as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Combined, these forces have created a hole in AC Transit’s budget of over $20 million in FY 2009/10 alone.
In January 2008, to deal with its budget gap, AC Transit staff recommended a fare increase for ALL riders. The staff-recommended proposal would increase the adult pass by 14%, the senior/disabled pass by 40% and the youth pass by 87%. Seniors would have had to pay $28, rather than $20 a month and youth would have had to pay $28 rather than $15 per month.
Due to community and coalition organizing, a rally, testimony, etc. the AC Transit Board conducted a survey to explore the viability of a parcel tax in the November election. Because of positive results AC Transit’s Board voted in June to delay a decision on the fare hike and to place a parcel tax on November’s ballot.
In July, after additional pressure from community organizations, the Board approved a resolution that promises to keep the monthly fares for youth, seniors and the disabled affordable for the lifetime of the parcel tax. This means holding them at their current value through FY 2010 and then not increasing the fares more than the cumulative total of the local CPI (inflation) as of January 1, 2009.
This promise reflects the general public’s interest in keeping transit affordable for these populations. The public recognizes that keeping youth and senior fares low is critical to ensuring that these riders can continue to ride AC and get to the places they need to go, like school and doctor’s appointments. The recent poll of voters demonstrates that the public agrees with us that getting seniors, the disabled and youth where they need to go, affordably, is AC Transit’s most important service (see GM Memo 08-136 Attachment 1, 2008).
The Parcel Tax will…
• be on the November 2008 ballot in every city where AC Transit provides service, except in Union City and Fremont (District 2)
• need 66.66% of voter approval to pass
• cost every property owner (residential and commercial) an additional $48/year ($4/month) per parcel– there are no exemptions or differentiations
• extend Measure BB, passed in 2004, which currently costs every property owner $48/year per parcel
• raise an estimated $14 million for AC Transit operations – paying to keep bus service on the street
Key Dates:
• October 20th: Last day to register to vote for this election
• October 28th: Last day to mail in absentee ballots
• November 4th: ELECTION DAY
Parcel Tax Language:
“To preserve affordable local public transportation that allows seniors and
people with disabilities to remain independent, takes students to and from
school, provides transportation alternatives given skyrocketing gas prices,
helps residents commute to work and reduces traffic and greenhouse gas
emissions by getting cars off the road shall the Alameda-Contra Costa
Transit District (AC Transit) increase its existing parcel tax by $4 per
parcel, per month for ten years with independent oversight and all money
staying local?”
Resolution by AC Transit Board Members to Keep Fares Affordable if the Parcel Tax Passes:
NOW THEREFORE, the Board of Directors of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit
District does resolve as follows:
Section 1. It reconfirms its commitment contained in Resolution No. 2141 to
keep any increases for youth, seniors and the disabled discounted at a rate below any
discounts required for these groups by any provision of federal or state law, to wit:
a. For Fiscal Years 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 the 31-Day Youth Pass and the
Senior/Disabled sticker shall remain at their present rate;
b. Commencing with the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year the amount of any future
increase in these rates shall be limited to the cumulative change from January 1,
2009 or from the last fare adjustment, whichever occurs later, using the All Urban
Consumers, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Metro Area, All Items Sub Index
in effect at the time of the adoption of any increase, except as provided for in Section 3, below.
Section 2. It defers until after the November 4, 2008 general election any
decision on the proposed fare alternatives considered at the May 21, 2008 public
hearing.
Section 3. It reserves the right to increase fares for the provision of bus
service within the District's overall service area when in the opinion of the Board of
Directors such increases are necessary due to unforeseen events, circumstances
and/or due to a deterioration in the financial condition of the District.
Section 4. The findings in the Whereas clauses set forth in this resolution are
specifically incorporated as the basis for the actions reflected in Sections 1, 2 and 3.
Section S. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage
by four affirmative votes of the Board of Directors.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of July 2008.
For more information, contact Lindsay Imai or Bob Allen of Urban Habitat.
510-839-9510 www.urbanhabitat.org
*Click on the links below to download the Parcel Tax Flier and the Measure V V fact sheet
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Measure VV Fact Sheet (.pdf) | 22.37 KB |
| Flier on Parcel Tax (.pdf) | 21.15 KB |
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