Measure on the ballot in the 2020 California General Election in Sacramento.
View your personalized ballot, check your voter registration, make a plan to vote, and research every name and measure on the ballot with BallotReady.
Get StartedMeasure A, if passed by a majority of the voters, revises the Sacramento City Charter, the voter-approved “constitution” that establishes the framework for city government. The measure would revise the city’s current “council-manager” form of government to a “mayor-council” form...Measure A changes the charter’s budget provisions: Currently, city manager proposes budget to council at least 60 days before fiscal year; under Measure A, mayor proposes budget to council at least 90 days before fiscal year.Currently, council must hold at least one public hearing; Measure A requires at least two public hearings. New: mayor may veto (including line-item veto) council-approved budget, subject to six-vote override. New: must include some expenditures consistent with citywide participatory budgeting. New: minimum of $40 million for “inclusive economic development and youth services” (at least 25% for youth services). Measure A requires the city to: Analyze the social equity impacts and small business impacts of the city’s budget and major policy decisions; Adopt a Code of Ethics and Conduct for elected officials and appointed board/commission members; Adopt a Sunshine Ordinance; Develop a means to ensure responsiveness to constituents. Measure A requires establishment of: An Ethics Commission; A Fair Housing and Human Rights Commission.
A "YES" vote on Measure A would be a vote in favor of amending the City Charter to change the city's form of government from "council-manager" to "mayor-council," as well as to change certain other provisions related to the budget process.
A "NO" vote on Measure A would be a vote in opposition to amending the City Charter to change the city's form of government from "council-manager" to "mayor-council," as well as to change certain other provisions related to the budget process.
"Measure A is balanced. It strengthens the City Council by giving it exclusive authority over land use and planning decisions. The Mayor's executive authority is kept in check by a stronger City Council. It also establishes term limits that allow the Mayor to serve no more than two terms. ", in support of Measure A (Learn more)
"The COVID 19 pandemic has shown how important it is for an accountable Mayor to be able to act quickly and decisively in urgent times. The virus has also exacerbated systemic inequities between people and neighborhoods. An accountable Mayor needs to be empowered in times of emergency or natural disaster to deliver real results. ", in support of Measure A (Learn more)
"Measure A establishes a participatory budget process, giving citizens direct input on spending priorities, including investment in economic opportunity, youth services, mental health and public safety reforms. It requires the city to analyze the racial, ethnic, LGBTQ and gender impacts of all its major decisions. Citizens rightfully expect our city to maintain its strengths and make more progress to help people in neighborhoods too often left behind. Our Mayor must be accountable and have the tools to deliver. ", in support of Measure A (Learn more)
"Measure A would be a fundamental change to our city government that would give the Mayor more power, and will weaken the voice of our neighborhoods and our Councilmembers. This means that citizens will have less involvement in decisions that directly affect their lives. Do we need this? NO, we don’t. Strong Mayor has been rejected three times in the last decade by the courts, the City Council, and the voters. We urge you to say NO again.", in opposition to Measure A (Learn more)
"Under this proposal the Mayor would propose and control the city budget, be able to fire the City Manager without cause, and have veto power over budget items and ordinances pas sed by the Council. The Mayor would no longer vote at City Council meetings, nor be regularly acces sible to the people. Although the title mentions accountability, it does the opposite - it will attract big money to Mayoral races to buy influence and gain favor for special interests.", in opposition to Measure A (Learn more)
"'Strong Mayor' means weak city council. A weak city council means less input from the neighborhoods they represent.This governance structure has been rejected before, because it doesn't fit Sacramento's tradition of strong neighborhoods and public input on city decisions. Think about who benefits from a concentration of power.", in opposition to Measure A (Learn more)
This Act...amends the Sacramento City Charter to include a series of reforms to create more accountability; create transparent checks and balances; afford the community a greater role in the city’s budget decisions; ensure the community’s economic development and city-services priorities are respected; and require the city to evaluate potential council decisions for their effects on social equity, including racial equity and gender equity.
View your personalized ballot, check your voter registration, make a plan to vote, and research every name and measure on the ballot with BallotReady.