First ballot measure would ask voters to approve a quarter-cent increase. The second would advise on how to spend it.
By Terri Hardy and Mary Lynne Vellinga
Published 12:01 am PDT Thursday, July 20, 2006
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/14279935p-15088435c.html
Inside Sacramento County's downtown headquarters, county counsel Bob Ryan is busy drafting ballot measures to raise nearly $1 billion in new sales taxes and earmark a big chunk of the money for a new Kings arena. One of the two measures would ask voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase, which would generate about $60 million a year.
Another, nonbinding measure would ask if voters want to spend nearly half the money on an arena, and give the rest to the county and to the individual cities within its borders to spend, however they choose.
Ryan's work may never be seen by Sacramento County voters, but he has to be ready, just in case an arena financing deal comes together in the next few days.
Those negotiating with the Kings owners on behalf of the city and county of Sacramento reported no deal as of late Wednesday.
Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof were in Sacramento Wednesday, meeting into the night with city and county officials, according to participants in the talks.
Officials have said they need an agreement by today in order to get a measure on the November ballot.
Arena talks include a discussion of a facility possibly owned jointly by the city and county and leased to the Maloofs, said Chris Holben, a spokesman for the new arena effort. City and county officials also are pushing for a Maloof contribution of 20 to 25 percent of the arena's price tag.
"I do think (Thursday) we'll have something to say, one way or another," said Paul Hahn, the county's head of economic development.
Miles from Hahn's office, in Sacramento County's suburban cities, leaders are also waiting to see what happens. Some say they hope a deal is struck; others say they still have a lot of questions, since details of the potential financing package have not been shared with them.
On Monday evening, Rancho Cordova City Council members voted unanimously to urge the county Board of Supervisors to put the quarter-cent sales tax on the ballot and let voters decide.
"We want to have a voice," Rancho Cordova Mayor Robert McGarvey said in a prepared statement. "Our residents created this city because they want and deserve a chance to have their opinion counted."
Sacramento city and county leaders have tried to woo their counterparts in Folsom, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Isleton and Galt by scheduling updates and a reception at the Sutter Club, which also was attended by Gavin Maloof.
Hours before Monday's Rancho Cordova vote, the negotiators, who had just returned from meeting with the Maloofs in Las Vegas, came to the Rancho Cordova City Hall to deliver another update to about two dozen representatives from the other cities.
Rancho Cordova City Councilwoman Linda Budge, a Kings season ticket holder, Wednesday said she strongly supports the idea of building a new arena, and said her city could use its share of the sales tax revenue for local amenities such as libraries, a teen center, or a theater.
"I believe everyone is hopeful that a deal will be struck that could be discussed at the Board of Supervisors next Tuesday," she said. "We all know the arena is in very bad condition and it was just built as a great big concrete tilt-up warehouse."
Other local leaders are withholding opinions until they see the details.
"On the surface, I have some concerns, but in fairness I don't know the specific details," Elk Grove Mayor Rick Soares said in an e-mail message.
If an agreement emerges, Soares said, he will ask the Elk Grove City Council next week to vote on whether to support putting it on the ballot.
Folsom spokeswoman Sue Ryan said it would be "premature" for the City Council to take any action until the full details of a deal are released.
Back at Sacramento County headquarters on Wednesday, staff members were also wondering whether a deal would be finalized this week or not.
Ryan's office has crafted the dual initiatives as a way to avoid having to obtain a two-thirds vote from the public. By asking voters to approve only a sales tax increase for general purposes, the county needs to obtain only a majority vote.
The companion, advisory measure is designed to obtain public blessing for the county to spend the money on an arena and projects for the cities.
The arena team, in meetings with its sister cities, has compiled a list of broad categories for regional projects, but includes no specifics. That list is unlikely to be fleshed out in the advisory measure, Ryan said.
"Lawyers are conservative, including me," he said. "And a conservative lawyer would recommend leaving the advisory measure as unspecific as possible."
Even so, the county has been threatened with a legal challenge from the Sacramento County Taxpayers League.
The Bee's Terri Hardy can be reached at (916) 321-1073 or thardy@sacbee.com.
By Terri Hardy and Mary Lynne Vellinga
Published 12:01 am PDT Thursday, July 20, 2006
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/14279935p-15088435c.html
Inside Sacramento County's downtown headquarters, county counsel Bob Ryan is busy drafting ballot measures to raise nearly $1 billion in new sales taxes and earmark a big chunk of the money for a new Kings arena. One of the two measures would ask voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase, which would generate about $60 million a year.
Another, nonbinding measure would ask if voters want to spend nearly half the money on an arena, and give the rest to the county and to the individual cities within its borders to spend, however they choose.
Ryan's work may never be seen by Sacramento County voters, but he has to be ready, just in case an arena financing deal comes together in the next few days.
Those negotiating with the Kings owners on behalf of the city and county of Sacramento reported no deal as of late Wednesday.
Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof were in Sacramento Wednesday, meeting into the night with city and county officials, according to participants in the talks.
Officials have said they need an agreement by today in order to get a measure on the November ballot.
Arena talks include a discussion of a facility possibly owned jointly by the city and county and leased to the Maloofs, said Chris Holben, a spokesman for the new arena effort. City and county officials also are pushing for a Maloof contribution of 20 to 25 percent of the arena's price tag.
"I do think (Thursday) we'll have something to say, one way or another," said Paul Hahn, the county's head of economic development.
Miles from Hahn's office, in Sacramento County's suburban cities, leaders are also waiting to see what happens. Some say they hope a deal is struck; others say they still have a lot of questions, since details of the potential financing package have not been shared with them.
On Monday evening, Rancho Cordova City Council members voted unanimously to urge the county Board of Supervisors to put the quarter-cent sales tax on the ballot and let voters decide.
"We want to have a voice," Rancho Cordova Mayor Robert McGarvey said in a prepared statement. "Our residents created this city because they want and deserve a chance to have their opinion counted."
Sacramento city and county leaders have tried to woo their counterparts in Folsom, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Isleton and Galt by scheduling updates and a reception at the Sutter Club, which also was attended by Gavin Maloof.
Hours before Monday's Rancho Cordova vote, the negotiators, who had just returned from meeting with the Maloofs in Las Vegas, came to the Rancho Cordova City Hall to deliver another update to about two dozen representatives from the other cities.
Rancho Cordova City Councilwoman Linda Budge, a Kings season ticket holder, Wednesday said she strongly supports the idea of building a new arena, and said her city could use its share of the sales tax revenue for local amenities such as libraries, a teen center, or a theater.
"I believe everyone is hopeful that a deal will be struck that could be discussed at the Board of Supervisors next Tuesday," she said. "We all know the arena is in very bad condition and it was just built as a great big concrete tilt-up warehouse."
Other local leaders are withholding opinions until they see the details.
"On the surface, I have some concerns, but in fairness I don't know the specific details," Elk Grove Mayor Rick Soares said in an e-mail message.
If an agreement emerges, Soares said, he will ask the Elk Grove City Council next week to vote on whether to support putting it on the ballot.
Folsom spokeswoman Sue Ryan said it would be "premature" for the City Council to take any action until the full details of a deal are released.
Back at Sacramento County headquarters on Wednesday, staff members were also wondering whether a deal would be finalized this week or not.
Ryan's office has crafted the dual initiatives as a way to avoid having to obtain a two-thirds vote from the public. By asking voters to approve only a sales tax increase for general purposes, the county needs to obtain only a majority vote.
The companion, advisory measure is designed to obtain public blessing for the county to spend the money on an arena and projects for the cities.
The arena team, in meetings with its sister cities, has compiled a list of broad categories for regional projects, but includes no specifics. That list is unlikely to be fleshed out in the advisory measure, Ryan said.
"Lawyers are conservative, including me," he said. "And a conservative lawyer would recommend leaving the advisory measure as unspecific as possible."
Even so, the county has been threatened with a legal challenge from the Sacramento County Taxpayers League.
The Bee's Terri Hardy can be reached at (916) 321-1073 or thardy@sacbee.com.
