- Home
- News Grid
- Local News
- Green Hawk
- Business
- Politics
- School Zone
- Nonprofits
- Missing Pets
- Multimedia
- Arts
- Movies
- Outdoors
- Sports
- News Releases
- Columnists
- Blogs
- Opinions
- Classifieds
- Advertise
- Donate
- Partners
County Bed Tax Measure and Hope School Bond Win Voter Support
By Andrea Ellickson, Noozhawk Intern | 
2 a.m. | Published on 06.08.2010
Slow and steady seems to win the race, as local Measures L and K found victory Tuesday night to maintain their current tax rates.
Measure K needed approval to keep the 10 percent bed tax rate that applies to hotels within the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County from reverting to 8 percent. And passage of Measure L extends until 2053 a parcel tax for residents within the Hope Elementary School District’s boundaries, providing a ray of hope for the district as so many others struggle to cope with deep budget cuts.
Measure K passed handily, with 41,175 yes votes, or 71.23 percent, to 16,629 no votes, or 28.77 percent. Measure L also secured a large margin, receiving 2,454 yes votes, or 67.45 percent, to 1,184 no votes, or 32.55 percent.
“This is a huge victory for the community,” said Tony Winterbauer, board president for the Hope Elementary School District and chairman of the Citizens for Hope, Yes on Measure L Committee.
Extension of the bond, which was set to expire in 2026, will secure $8 million in funding for classroom and renewable energy improvements without increasing the current $9 tax rate for district residents.
“Measure L re-engaged the community to invest locally in our schools,” Winterbauer said. “It will help raise property values and even bring in revenue to the district with renewable energy. It will give students what they need for 21st-century learning.”
The $8 million will be used to modernize the Vieja Valley Multipurpose Room, improve the Monte Vista Elementary School library, and buy new computers for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders. In addition, the district plans to install solar panels and other energy-efficient upgrades that could save up to $65,000 per year.
With passage of Measure K, the county can find some comfort in the continuation of the hotel bed tax, since the revenue goes directly to local needs and can’t be taken away or borrowed by the state.
For more than 20 years, the hotel bed tax — officially titled the “Transient Occupancy Tax” — has charged 10 percent to guests of Santa Barbara County hotels and motels. If voters had rejected Measure K, the tax would have dropped to 8 percent and cost the county about $1.2 million in lost revenue.
In other election news, running unopposed were Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown, county Clerk-Recorder-Assessor Joe Holland and county Auditor-Controller Bob Geis, who will continue in their positions. Each received more than 98 percent voter approval.
In a four-way race to replace retiring county Treasurer-Tax Collector Bernice James, Harry Hagen won by a sizable lead with 30,570 yes votes, or 58.35 percent. Michael Cheng came in a distant second with 8,369 votes (15.98 percent), as did Gregory Gandrud with 8,053 votes (15.37 percent) and Polly Holcombe with 5,207 votes (9.94 percent).
Bill Cirone will serve his eighth four-year term as county superintendent of schools with 98.45 percent of yes votes. He is currently the longest-serving county superintendent in the state of California.
— Noozhawk intern Andrea Ellickson, a UCSB graduate, is a journalism student at SBCC. She can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).A
Comments
Noozhawk's comments are moderated, but by posting here you accept your responsibility to follow our rules as part of Noozhawk's shared online community. Please keep your comments civil and helpful. Don't attack other readers personally, and do not use vulgar, abusive or discriminatory language. Use the "Report Abuse" link if a comment violates these standards or our Terms of Use.
» on 06.11.10 @ 11:57 PM
Why would you give bad liberal leaders more money?
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
More Local News »
Authorities Locate SBCC Student Reported Missing
His mother had asked for the public's help finding her 20-year-old 'special needs' son
Red Flag Warning Canceled; Wind Advisory Still in Effect
Sunny skies are expected to give way to some clouds over the weekend
Santa Barbara Breaks Record With High of 86 Degrees
Previous mark for May 23 was 82, set in 1949, according to the National Weather Service
Santa Maria Man Facing Child Molestation Charges
Victim reports being sexually abused over a period of time by the suspect
Police Seek Public’s Help Identifying Suspect in Retail Thefts
Surveillance photo shows person wanted in connection with thefts at two Santa Barbara stores
Weather: Partly Cloudy 52.0º
Search Noozhawk »
