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The November 5 vote not only elected a president, but also gave the green light to some measures at the state and local level. In this sense, residents of Redwood City, San Mateo and Half Moon Bay gave their approval to some measures seeking to improve living conditions in their community.
With 82.59 percent of the votes in favor of YES, Redwood City voted in favor of the business license tax measure (Measure BB), meaning that large businesses would pay a higher proportional amount of business taxes, while small retail and commercial businesses would have a lower tax rate per employee.
The aim is to adjust tax rates based on the category of the company, with the highest rate corresponding to the largest industries and companies.
The measure would modernize the City's current business license tax structure, with taxes that could range from $10 to $250 per employee, providing approximately $7 million annually.
This BB measure will provide locally controlled funding to the city's largest businesses to deliver local services.
As for other measures voted on at the county level, residents of the city of San Mateo approved the T measure with 58.69 percent of the vote on affordable housing. This measure will put into effect residential limits in single-family zones that are designated as “very low residential” in the 2040 General Plan, limiting density in these zones to nine units per acre.
With this measure, most of the city (75 percent) will continue to respect the current development limits, leaving 15 percent of the land, including roads, sidewalks, the Laguna Marina and train tracks, in spaces that cannot be developed.
Meanwhile, East Palo Alto residents voted YES on Measure JJ, which received 76.39 percent approval. This measure will limit the use of money generated by a 2.5 percent tax to fund rental assistance and other specific housing purposes and will prevent the money from being used for general government purposes.
The amendment will ensure that the money generated will not be used for general government purposes, but will instead be used to support affordable homeownership, preserve affordable housing, provide rental assistance for tenants, and/or protect residents from displacement or homelessness.
Additionally, a new subsection, 5.08.125.H., is added to ensure that the council periodically reviews housing policy, housing programs, and related matters to determine how and to what extent the city should fund such programs.
Ultimately, the majority of Half Moon Bay residents approved Measure R, which achieved 63.15 percent of the vote to raise additional revenue to support the City's General Fund, which provides a variety of services for seniors, youth, libraries, park maintenance, and other general areas; however, maintenance expenses have increased and revenue is not sufficient.
Half Moon Bay Measure R authorizes a half-cent (0.5 percent) sales tax to maintain city services.
City staff estimates the measure will generate approximately $2 million annually to support Half Moon Bay’s General Fund.
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