Santa Cruz County

(INITIATIVE) Shall voters enact on ordinance to fund projects to protect drinking water sources, rivers, creeks, streams, groundwater resources, beaches, and parks, reduce catastrophic wildfire risks, and preserve native wildlife, habitats, working lands, and agriculture, by levying $87 per parcel per year, raising approximately $7.3 million annually, with citizens' oversight, annual reports, public spending disclosure, and all money distributed locally, until ended by voters?

To fund essential Santa Cruz County services, including wildfire response/prevention/recovery; affordable housing to support working families and frontline workers including nurses, emergency responders, and educators; mental health crisis programs for children/vulnerable populations; substance abuse programs; improved public safety, road maintenance/pothole repair, parks/recreation; and programs to reduce homelessness, shall Santa Cruz County’s transaction and use tax (sales tax) be increased in unincorporated areas by one-half cent, providing approximately $10,000,000 annually, until ended by voters?

To fund Santa Cruz County essential public services including wildfire prevention, emergency response/recovery, street repair, public/mental health services, homelessness programs, and affordable housing, shall Santa Cruz County increase its existing Transient Occupancy Tax, paid by tourists and others staying overnight at lodging facilities in unincorporated areas, from 11% to 12% for hotels/motels/inns, and to 14% for vacation rental properties, providing approximately $2,300,000 annually, until ended by voters?

To reduce pollution, trash and plastics entering local waters and beaches; protect water quality, public health and marine life; address illegal dumping; help prevent wildfires; clean/maintain parks and public areas; and provide environmental education and other general services, shall 12.5 cents of Santa Cruz County’s existing single-use cup charge be collected as a tax until ended by voters, raising approximately $700,000 annually and requiring public spending reports?

(INITIATIVE) Shall voters adopt the measure to amend the Circulation Element of the County’s General Plan related to use of the Santa Cruz Branch Line Rail Corridor as set forth in the Santa Cruz County Greenway Initiative Petition?

To continue funding 9-1-1 emergency response, paramedic, sheriff, fire, emergency preparedness, local street repairs, mental health services, homelessness programs, parks, economic development and other general county services, shall the County of Santa Cruz be authorized to increase by ordinance the sales tax on retail transactions in the unincorporated area of the County by one-half cent for twelve years, providing approximately $5,750,000 annually, subject to annual audits and independent citizens oversight?

To provide affordable local housing for working families and vulnerable populations including veterans, seniors, low- and moderate-income households, persons with disabilities, homeless individuals and families; and supportive housing for individuals suffering from mental health illnesses or substance use disorders; shall the County of Santa Cruz issue up to $140,000,000 in general obligation bonds, with an estimated levy of $16.77 per $100,000 of assessed valuation, generating approximately $8,600,000 annually through maturity, subject to independent citizen oversight and regular audits?

In order to: improve children’s safety around schools; repair potholes; repave streets; improve traffic flow on Highway 1; maintain senior/disabled transit; reduce global warming pollution by providing transportation options like sidewalks, buses, bike lanes, trails; preserve rail options; shall Santa Cruz County voters adopt an ordinance establishing a half-cent sales tax for 30 years, raising approximately $17 million annually, requiring citizen oversight, independent audits, and funds spent locally?

To protect the quality of life in Santa Cruz County and to fund essential County services such as police, fire, emergency response, health services, youth and senior programs, job creation, housing, environmental protection, and animal shelter/adoption, shall Measure K be amended to revise the definition of cannabis to conform to State law and revise the definition of cannabis business or medical marijuana business to include all cannabis businesses with all funds staying local?

To protect the quality of life in Santa Cruz County and to fund essential county services such as police, fire, emergency response, health services, youth and senior programs, job creation, housing, environmental protection, and animal shelter programs; shall an ordinance be adopted to impose a tax of no more than 10% (7% when enacted) on gross receipts of cannabis (medical marijuana) businesses in the unincorporated county, subject to audits, with all funds staying local?

To properly maintain Santa Cruz County parks, facilities, beach access, and open space; clean bathrooms; repair roofs and electrical systems; keep facilities open and safe; provide recreation to children, teenagers, families, and seniors: shall Santa Cruz County levy an annual tax of $8.50 per improved parcel, replacing an expiring service charge on residential units within the County’s Park and Recreation District, with all funds staying local?

Shall Section 406 of the City Charter be changed and subdivision (k) of Section 1503 be added to the City Charter to require a vacant (as defined) Council seat be filled only by voters at either a General Municipal Election or a Special Municipal Election rather than by Council election, required to be held within ninety (90) days after the vacancy (as defined) occurs?

Shall Sections 500 and 504 of the Watsonville City Charter be changed so that the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore are required to be selected in numerical order according to the District number where they reside rather than elected by the Council?

Shall the Watsonville Municipal Code be amended to add a procedure that requires public places (as defined) be named only after being nominated by a member of the City Council and voted upon by voters in the City of Watsonville at a General or Special Municipal Election?

To protect the quality of life in Santa Cruz County by limiting further cuts to police, fire, emergency services, health services, parks and recreation, economic development, job creation, and other essential county services; shall Santa Cruz County be authorized to levy an additional tax of one and one-half of one percent in the Transient Occupancy Tax on people staying at lodging facilities in the unincorporated areas of the county?