Chapter 2.7. San Diego County Justice Facilities Financing Act of California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 1.7. >> Chapter 2.7.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that in the County of San Diego justice-related facilities are so inadequate as to significantly impede the administration of justice, that jail and court facilities are so overcrowded as to create a situation wherein persons who are a danger to society are required to be released into that society for lack of adequate facilities to house and prosecute them, and that law enforcement and crime prevention are so inadequately funded as to endanger the safety of persons and property in San Diego County. The Legislature further finds and declares that it is in the public interest to allow the voters to approve a special tax so that justice-related facility needs and law enforcement and crime prevention needs may be addressed in an expeditious and appropriate fashion.

(a) The board of supervisors of the County of San Diego, subject to the approval of the voters, may impose a tax rate of one-half of 1 percent under this chapter and Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251) of Division 2. Neither this chapter nor any ordinance or resolution approved pursuant to this chapter shall affect any tax otherwise authorized.
  (b) The combined rate of tax imposed in the County of San Diego by any public entity pursuant to Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200) or Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251) of Division 2, this chapter, and any other provision of law authorizing the imposition of local sales or transactions and use taxes shall not exceed 2.25 percent.

(a) A retail transactions and use tax ordinance applicable in the incorporated and unincorporated territory of the County of San Diego shall be adopted by the board of supervisors in accordance with Section 7286.31 and Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251) of Division 2, if the tax is approved by a two-thirds vote of the qualified voters of the county voting on the measure at a special election called for that purpose by the board. The election called by the board shall be held within the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. The tax ordinance shall take effect 48 hours subsequent to the closing time of the polls on the day of the election at which the proposition is adopted. The initial collection of the transactions and use tax shall take place in accordance with Section 7286.35.
  (b) Notwithstanding Section 7286.38 and subdivision (a) of this section, in the event voters approve a constitutional amendment permitting the imposition of a local special tax with the approval of a majority of the voters voting on the measure, the vote requirement for approval of the tax authorized by this act shall be a majority of voters voting on the measure.

The ordinance shall state the tax rate and may state a term during which the tax will be imposed. The ordinance shall state the appropriate requirements for voter approval pursuant to Section 7286.32. The ordinance may authorize the board of supervisors to reduce the tax rate to one-quarter of 1 percent at its discretion, if the board determines that revenue from the reduced rate would be sufficient to fund the justice-related facility obligations incurred in connection with this act.

The board of supervisors shall have sole discretion to determine the specific activities and projects financed with revenues generated by the tax. However, those activities and projects shall be limited to the provision, construction, and operation of justice-related facilities, the funding of law enforcement and crime prevention projects and activities, the funding of the costs incurred by the county to conduct the election authorized by Section 7286.32, and the cost of any legal actions incurred by the county related to the tax.

(a) Any transactions and use tax ordinance adopted pursuant to this article shall become operative on the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than 110 days after the ordinance takes effect.
  (b) Any reduction in the transactions and use tax rate authorized by the board of supervisors pursuant to Section 7286.33 shall become operative on the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning 110 days or more after the board's action authorizing the reduction.
  (c) Prior to the operative date of the ordinance, the board of supervisors shall contract with the State Board of Equalization to perform all functions incident to the administration and operation of the ordinance.

Any action or proceeding wherein the validity of the adoption of the retail transactions and use tax ordinance provided for in this chapter or the issuance of any bonds thereunder or any of the proceedings in relation thereto is contested, questioned, or denied, shall be commenced pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Otherwise, the tax, the bonds, and all proceedings in relation thereto, including the adoption and approval of the ordinance, shall be held to be valid and in every respect legal and uncontestable.

If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable.

The transactions and use tax authorized under this chapter constitutes a special tax that requires approval of two-thirds of the qualified electors pursuant to Section 4 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution.