RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

* * * * * *

RESOLUTION URGING THE SAN MATEO COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR TO PLACE THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO’S SPECIAL TAX FOR CRIME PREVENTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS ON THE TAX BILL

______________________________________________________________

RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, on November 7, 2006, 67.7% of the voters of East Palo Alto approved “Measure C,” an ordinance also known as “The City Council-sponsored Crime-Fighting Act of 2007,” which authorized the collection of a special parcel tax from 2007 through 2017 with the collected monies to be allocated equally between youth and community crime prevention programs and neighborhood law enforcement programs;

WHEREAS, although Measure C called for the collection of the special tax by the San Mateo County Tax Collector “in the same manner as the County’s collection of property taxes for the City,” the ordinance also specified that such taxes would not be a lien and further imposed annual penalties and interest in excess of 25% for non-payment of such taxes;

WHEREAS, the San Mateo County Tax Collector has expressed reservation concerning the collection of the taxes imposed by Measure C insofar as state law provides that such taxes automatically create a lien on property and limit interest on such unpaid taxes at 10%;

WHEREAS, Measure C, as approved by the voters of East Palo Alto, authorized the City Council to amend the ordinance, with exception of the tax rates, and to promulgate such additional ordinances and resolutions as it may deem necessary to implement the ordinance. Further, the City of East Palo Alto has indicated its willingness to make appropriate amendments to Measure C in order to address the San Mateo County Tax Collector’s concerns;

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that, upon the City of East Palo Alto’s adoption of amendments necessary to bring Measure C in conformity with state law, the Board hereby urges the San Mateo County Tax Collector to implement the collection of the special tax authorized by Measure C by placing said tax on the County’s tax bill to assure timely collection of the taxes and to implement the will of the voters in raising additional monies to prevent crime and to support neighborhood law enforcement efforts.

* * * * * *