Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Dave Pine, District 1
Subject: SB 797 - Caltrain Sales Tax Implementation
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution approving the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board's placement of a three-county measure on the ballot for the November 3, 2020, Presidential Election to impose a one-eighth of one percent (0.125%) retail transactions and use tax for a period of thirty (30) years, throughout San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, and the City and County of San Francisco to be used for operating and capital purposes of the Caltrain Rail Service.
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BACKGROUND:
In 2017, Senator Jerry Hill introduced, and Governor Jerry Brown signed, Senate Bill 797 ("SB 797") which authorized the JPB to implement a new retail transactions and use tax of up to 0.125 percent in the Three Counties served by Caltrain if (i) the Board of Directors of the JPB adopts a resolution submitting the measure to the voters; (ii) the measure is approved by the Boards of Supervisors in the Three Counties; (iii) the measure is approved by a majority vote of the governing boards of the JPB member agencies-the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the San Mateo County Transit District, and Valley Transportation Authority (the "Member Agencies"); and (iv) the measure is approved by a two-thirds vote of the voters of Three Counties. The revenues derived from the sales tax, if approved, would provide a dedicated fund source to support the operational and capital cost of the Caltrain service.
DISCUSSION:
Since its inception, the JPB has had no dedicated source of funding other than passenger fares and, instead, relies on contributions from the Member Agencies to meet the minimum financial requirements in its operating and capital budgets under two different funding formulas. Each of the Member Agencies (a) contributes an equal amount of capital funding each ...
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