COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

County Counsel

 

DATE:

November 29, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 14, 2004

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

County Counsel

SUBJECT:

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2004 SAN MATEO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ORDINANCE TO CORRECT CLERICAL ERROR

 

Recommendation

Adopt An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 04223 Providing For The Continuation Of The San Mateo Transportation Authority, The Extension Of The One-Half Of One Percent Retail Transactions And Use Tax, The Issuance Of Limited Tax Bonds And For Other Purposes

 

Background

In 1988, the voters of San Mateo County approved a ballot measure which increased the local sales tax in San Mateo County by one-half of one percent with the tax revenues to be used for highway and transit improvements pursuant to the Transportation Expenditure Plan, that included a provision for the creation of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. The measure provided that the additional sales tax would be imposed for a period not to exceed 20 years, ending December 31, 2008.

 

On July 27, 2004 this Board adopted Ordinance No. 04223 entitled “Ordinance Providing For The Continuation Of The San Mateo Transportation Authority, The Extension Of The One-Half Of One Percent Retail Transactions And Use Tax, The Issuance Of Limited Tax Bonds And For Other Purposes”. The continuance of the tax had to be approved by the electorate and Measure A was placed on the November 2, 2004 ballot. The voters approved Measure A which continues the sales tax from January 1, 2009 for an additional 25 years.

 

There was a clerical error in the date listed in the ordinance as to when the levy would end. The ordinance provides that the levy of the tax would continue for an additional 25 years to December 31, 2034. However, if the tax is to end in 25 years, the ordinance should have read that the levy would end December 31, 2033.

 

Discussion

The voters approved continuing the levy of the tax for a period of 25 years commencing January 1, 2009. The proposed ordinance amends three sections of the ordinance to accurately reflect that the tax will be levied from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2033, which is 25 years, rather than December 31, 2034, which is 26 years.