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Sacramento Measure O Fact Sheet

SUMMARY

The City of Sacramento recently decided to ask voters to approve a new tax on text messaging, internet communications, paging, toll free numbers and custom calling features such as call waiting and caller ID and more. If approved, bureaucrats will begin collecting a new 7% tax on a wide range of communications services that had previously been enjoyed tax free.

The passage of this new tax by voters would also allow Sacramento to continue collecting a tax on cellular phone service which had previously been collected without voter approval as required by the California Constitution. The cell phone tax has been the focus of litigation by local taxpayers.

Text messaging, along with paging, is an important form of modern communication and is used by businesses to communicate instantaneously with clients, to send alerts to employees and to confirm delivery and other routine tasks. In emergencies, text messaging is used to alert community members of danger. Text messaging is also popular with teenagers and young people.

If approved, Measure O will be a burden on already overtaxed families and businesses.

A NO VOTE WOULD:

Allow Sacramentans to continue using text messaging and other forms of communication tax free
Roll back the City's illegal tax on cellular phone service

A YES VOTE WOULD:

Enact a new 7% tax on the following forms of communication:
- Text messaging
- Internet communications
- Paging
- Toll free numbers
- Custom calling features such as call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID and three-way calling
- Future forms of communication and more
Allow Sacramento to continue collecting a tax on cellular phone services
Reduce the tax on landlines to 7%, a ½% reduction

DO NOT BE DECEIVED, THIS IS A TAX INCREASE

Politicians are trying to package this tax increase as a tax cut. In fact, City officials have admitted there are millions of dollars at stake. This proposal has been put on the ballot by the bureaucrats and politicians who stand to benefit from increasing your taxes.

The texting tax encompasses a wide range of communications that are currently not subject to taxes. This proposal is a huge expansion of the City’s power to take more of your money, and even applies to future forms of communication not yet developed!

Please join other businesses and taxpayers in opposing this unfair new tax.

Download a copy of the fact sheet here