Question #4 - Proposed Charter Change 4

Summary

Under the City Charter, City Council must adopt a budget for the City every year, and decide how much money each City department may spend in the upcoming year. This ballot question asks whether you want to change the Charter to require the Council to set aside a certain amount of money in the budget for various housing programs. This would include building affordable housing; making it easier for disabled people to live in or visit affordable housing; and reducing homelessness. If this ballot question is approved, Council would be required to set aside for these programs an amount equal to one half of a percent (0.5%) of the City's "General Fund appropriations,” paid for mostly by taxes that have no other restrictions on how the money is spent. If this proposal had been in place this year, Council would have been required to set aside approximately 25 million dollars for the housing programs, in addition to money required by other existing laws to be spent on such programs. This minimum amount would not be allowed to be used for any other purpose unless there was an emergency need.

A "Yes" vote on Proposed Charter Change 4 is a vote to amend the Home Rule Charter to give a minimum amount of half a percent of the City's General Fund Appropriations to various housing programs.

A "No" vote on Proposed Charter Change 4 is a vote opposing an amendment to the Home Rule Charter that would give a minimum amount of half a percent of the City's General Fund Appropriations to various housing programs.

Measure Details