Pubdate: Sun, 12 Oct 2014
Source: Record Searchlight (Redding, CA)
Copyright: 2014 Record Searchlight
Contact:  http://www.redding.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/360
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California)

MEASURE C: SHOULD SHASTA LAKE TAX MEDICAL MARIJUANA COLLECTIVES?

SHASTA LAKE, California - Measure C would impose a sales tax on the
two medical marijuana collectives in the city of Shasta Lake, 530
Collective and Queen of Dragons.

The idea, originally proposed by Jamie Kerr, owner of 530 Collective,
could bring the city an additional $175,000 to $200,000 in sales tax
revenue a year, according to initial estimates by John Jones, the
city's finance and general services manager. That translates to around
a 60 percent increase in the city's annual sales tax revenue.

The following information is from the Shasta County Elections office
voters guide and has been edited for brevity.

Ballot question: To provide funding for general city services, shall
an ordinance be adopted to impose a tax at a rate initially set at 6
percent, and not to exceed 10 percent, of gross receipts on medical
marijuana collectives and cooperatives operating in the city of Shasta
Lake?

 From the impartial analysis by city attorney John Kenny: If approved
by a majority of the voters this measure would ... impose upon
marijuana collectives and cooperatives operating in the city of
Shasta Lake a business tax of 6 percent on the gross receipts of each
collective or cooperative. This would be in addition to the sales
taxes already paid by the collectives and cooperatives. In addition,
each collective or cooperative would be required to have a business
license. The (law) would allow the City Council to lower the business
tax or increase the business tax to an amount not to exceed 10
percent of the gross receipts. The measure would authorize the City
Council to amend, modify, change or revise the (law) as the City
Council deems in the best interest of the city. The City Council,
however, would not have authority to increase the tax to more than 10
percent. The measure authorizes the city manager to promulgate rules,
regulations and procedures to implement and administer the (law) to
ensure efficient and timely collection of taxes imposed. The measure
also gives to the city manager the right to examine and audit all of
the books, business records and tax returns of collectives and
cooperatives to verify the proper collection of taxes. The revenues
collected by the city would constitute general revenues to be used
for the general benefit of the city and its citizens.

Argument in favor: None filed.

Argument opposed: None filed. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard