Voter Transparency In Ballot Measures

The act requires that certain language appear at the beginning of a ballot title for an initiated measure that would either increase or decrease tax revenue through a tax change.

First, in the case of a measure that would reduce state tax revenue through a tax change, the ballot title must begin "Shall there be a reduction to the (description of tax) by (the percentage by which the tax is reduced in the first full fiscal year that the measure reduces revenue) thereby reducing state revenue, which will reduce funding for state expenditures that include but are not limited to (the three largest areas of program expenditure) by an estimated (projected dollar figure of revenue reduction to the state in the first full fiscal year that the measure reduces revenue) in tax revenue...?". If the ballot measure specifies the public services or programs that are to be reduced by the tax change, those public services or programs must be stated in the ballot title.

Second, in the case of a measure that would reduce local district property tax revenue through a tax change, the ballot title must begin "Shall funding available for counties, school districts, water districts, fire districts, and other districts funded, at least in part, by property taxes be impacted by a reduction of (projected dollar figure of property tax revenue reduction to all districts in the first full fiscal year that the measure reduces revenue) in property tax revenue...?".

Finally, in the case of a measure that would increase tax revenue for any district through a tax change, after the language required by section 20 (3)(c) of article X of the state constitution, the ballot title must state either "in order to increase or improve levels of public services", or, if applicable, "in order to increase or improve levels of public services, including, but not limited to (the program expenditure that the measure states will receive increased funding)".

The act also changes the requirements for the ballot information booklet entry for certain measures. The act requires the ballot information booklet entry for an initiated measure that would increase or decrease income tax revenue or state sales tax revenue to include a table that shows the number of tax filers in designated income categories, the total tax burden change for each of those income categories, and the average tax burden change for a filer within each of those income categories. If an initiated measure includes a tax change that reduces state tax revenue, the act requires the ballot information booklet to include a description of the 3 largest areas of program expenditure funded by the affected revenue stream.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)