Ballot Measure K1: Transactions and Use (Sales) Tax
Ballot Measure Question:
To continue providing essential City of Hayward services, including firefighting, emergency-medical response, police protection, pothole repair, street improvements, general City maintenance, and modernization of aging City facilities, including for police, public works, and South Hayward community and library services; shall a City of Hayward measure to continue (without increasing) an existing half-cent sales tax for 20 years, providing $20,000,000 annually that cannot be taken by the State, requiring annual audits and public disclosure, be adopted?
Synopsis Of The Measure Question:
On March 4, 2014, the City Council placed Measure C, a ballot measure regarding a general Transactions and Use (Sales) Tax, before voters for the June 3, 2014 general election. Measure C authorized the imposition of a 0.50% tax on the sale price of tangible personal property and the storage, use, or other consumption of such property. During the June 3, 2014, general election, Measure C received a majority of votes in favor of imposing the tax which would expire after 20 years, on December 31, 2034.
The November 5, 2024, proposed ballot measure seeks voter approval relating to an extension of the Transactions and Use (Sales) Tax for twenty (20) years, through 2054, without increasing the sales tax.
Learn more about the Ballot Measure below:
What is Measure K1
Measure K1 is a measure appearing on the Nov. 5, 2024, to extend, without increasing, the City of Hayward’s local half-cent sales tax. First enacted by Hayward voters in June 2014, the sales tax is used by the City to improve and renew public-serving City facilities, roads and infrastructure and to fund certain municipal services.
When does the sales tax expire?
If not extended by Hayward voters, the half-cent sales tax, originally enacted in June 2014, would expire in 2034. Measure K1 would extend, without increasing, the tax for an additional 20 years to 2054.
Why are voters being asked to extend the sales tax now?
Extending the tax now for an additional 20 years to the year 2054 would allow the City to undertake facility, road and infrastructure projects it may not otherwise be able to afford, and it would allow the City to begin those projects sooner, potentially saving on construction costs in future years.
What happens if the Hayward sales tax is not extended?
Currently, the City’s half-cent sales tax generates more than $20 million a year. If not extended, the tax will expire in 2034, and the City will need to reduce services and facility, road and infrastructure investment, if alternative revenue sources can’t be identified and secured.
How is Hayward sales tax revenue being used?
Since 2014, Hayward sales tax revenue has funded construction of the new downtown library and neighboring Heritage Plaza; the renovation and seismic retrofitting of five neighborhood fire stations; the construction of a new westside fire station and regional fire and rescue training center; and the largest annual roadway pavement improvement project in City history. Additionally, the tax funds 14 police and 9-1-1 dispatch positions, and nine Department of Maintenance Services maintenance and groundskeeping positions.
Who decides how sales tax revenue is used?
As a general tax, Hayward sales tax revenue can be used for any lawful municipal purpose and is allocated by the City Council as part of annual General Fund and Capital Improvement budgets. In making these decisions, the Council is guided by priorities established when the tax was enacted in June 2014 and new and emerging service and facility, roadway improvement and infrastructure needs. These include replacing Hayward Police headquarters and its 9-1-1 dispatch center.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a General Municipal Election will be held in the City of Hayward on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, for the following officers and Ballot Measure:
For Four (4) Members of the City Council – Full term of four years
The nomination period for these offices begins on July 15, 2024 and closes on August 9, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. If nomination papers for an incumbent officer of the city are not filed by August 9, 2024, then the filing period will be extended to August 14, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
Nomination information can be obtained by contacting the Office of the City Clerk, 777 B Street, Hayward, California, (510) 583-4400, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Information is also available on the City’s website at https://www.hayward-ca.gov/your-government/elections
If no one or only one person is nominated for an elective office, appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by Section 10229, Elections Code of the State of California.
MEASURE ____
Transactions and Use (Sales) Tax
To continue providing essential City of Hayward services, including firefighting, emergency-medical response, police protection, pothole repair, street improvements, general City maintenance, and modernization of aging City facilities, including for police, public works, and South Hayward community and library services; shall a City of Hayward measure to continue (without increasing) an existing half-cent sales tax for 20 years, providing $20,000,000 annually that cannot be taken by the State, requiring annual audits and public disclosure, be adopted?
The polls will be open between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Place to File:
Office of the City Clerk
City Clerk Miriam Lens
Download the Notice of Ballot Measure:
KEY DATES | TASKS |
|---|---|
| August 12, 2024 (Noon, 12 p.m.) | Last day to file direct arguments with City Clerk (EC 9282, 9286) |
| August 12 - August 22, 2024 | Ten-day public review period for direct arguments. A writ of mandate or injunction may be sought to require amendments or decisions. (EC 9295) |
| August 16, 2024 (Noon, 12 p.m.) | Last day to file rebuttal arguments with City Clerk (EC 9285) |
| August 16 - August 26, 2024 | Ten-day public review period for rebuttal arguments. A writ of mandate or injunction may be sought to require amendments or decisions. (EC 9295) |
Each argument and rebuttal argument must be accompanied by the Signature Statement Form and signed by each proponent and by each author, if different, of the argument. (Election Code §9283, 9285, 9287, 9600)
Resolution 24-130
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAYWARD CALLING FOR A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING FOUR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR TERMS OF FOUR YEARS; AND REQUESTING THE ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION OF THE CITY OF HAYWARD WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION
Resolution 24-131
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024
Resolution 24-137 (Revised)
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF HAYWARD ESTABLISHING NOVEMBER 5, 2024, AS THE DATE FOR AN ELECTION ON A PROPOSED BALLOT MEASURE SEEKING VOTER APPROVAL RELATING TO AN EXTENSION OF THE TRANSACTIONS AND USE (SALES) TAX FOR TWENTY YEARS, THROUGH 2054, AND REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ALAMEDA COUNTY TO CONSOLIDATE SAID ELECTION WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION; AND AUTHORIZING CERTAIN OTHER ELECTION ACTIVITIES
Resolution 24-138
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE SCHEDULE AND POLICY PROVIDING FOR THE FILING OF BALLOT ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE TRANSACTIONS AND USE (SALES) TAX BALLOT MEASURE AT THE NOVEMBER 5, 2024 GENERAL ELECTION
Revised Impartial Analysis by Hayward City Attorney
Stamp Received: Aug. 13, 2024 at 11:56:48 AM
The City Council is submitting to voters the question of whether to extend an existing local sales tax to fund long-term capital facilities, projects, and program services for residents. The current local sales tax, commonly known as Measure C, was approved by voters in 2014 for a 20-year period, or until 2034. If approved by voters on November 5, 2024, this local sales tax would be extended for an additional 20-year period, expiring in 2054. If the extension is not approved, the tax will expire in 2034. The measure on the ballot in November 2024, although functionally the same, would have a different designation than "Measure C".
Since 2014, the Measure C half-cent sales tax has generated approximately $20 million annually. The funds generated by Measure C have supported construction of the new Downtown Library and Learning Center and the West Hayward Fire Station and Training Center. If extended, according to reports considered by the City Council in deciding to submit this extension to the voters, Measure C could fund the construction of a new Weekes Branch Library, and the updating of the City's corporation yard. The sales tax could also support expanded mental health and crisis intervention services. If voters approve the sales tax extension, the City Council would finalize the list of projects and programs in early 2025.
Currently, the tax on retail sales in Hayward is ten and three-quarters percent (10.75%) of the purchase price, which includes the existing 0.5% sales tax approved as Measure C. The measure now being presented to voters would authorize the continuation of the 0.5% sales tax. A "sales tax" is a combination of "sales and use tax". Both are levied on the sale or use of tangible personal property sold at retail, with certain limited exceptions such as hot food. Retailers collect the tax at the time of sale and remit the funds to the State Board of Equalization, which administers the tax.
If extended , the tax proceeds would continue to be deposited into the City's general fund and be available to support a full range of municipal services. Because the measure does not legally restrict the use of tax revenue to any specific purposes, it remains classified as a "general tax," not a "special tax." As with current Measure C funds, all future tax proceeds would be subject to the same independent annual audit requirements, and the audit report would be a public record.
A "Yes" vote is a vote in favor of extending the tax until 2054. A "No" vote is a vote against the extension of the tax, meaning the tax would expire in 2034. This measure would be approved if it receives a simple majority of "Yes" votes.
Michael Lawson, City Attorney, City of Hayward
Download the Revised Impartial Analysis by Hayward City Attorney
