Residents of the city of Santa Cruz had one measure to vote on in Tuesday’s election – Measure A, which proposed to increase the allocation of cannabis tax revenues to the Fund from 12.5% ​​to 20%. childhood and to make the fund permanent as a charter. amendment which could only be overturned by another ballot measure decided by the voters.

With the first unofficial results dated Tuesday evening, nearly 83% of voters in the city approved the measure, with 8,659 yes voters against 1,824 opposing it. The measure only needs a simple majority to pass.

The city currently taxes the gross receipts of cannabis companies at 7%, and increasing the allocation to the Children’s Fund, which helps pay for child care, after-school programs and scholarships, would give the fund forecast revenue of $ 340,000 for fiscal 2022, according to an analysis by the city attorney. The rest of the cannabis tax revenue goes to the city’s general fund.

The measure also requires city council to establish a community watch committee to oversee Children’s Fund spending and recommend the use of future revenues.

“This fund will prioritize our most vulnerable children and families, bringing us one step closer to creating a community in which all children are set up to succeed and families are supported,” supporters of the measure , whose county supervisor Ryan Coonerty and city council member Martine Watkins, wrote in the poll argument supporting him.

No voting arguments were filed against measure A.

Copyright © 2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, redistribution, or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the Greater Bay Area.

Copyright © 2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, rebroadcasting, or any other reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.