A referendum to reverse a bill that would allow local jurisdictions to raise taxes on cigarettes was set to launch if Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill. He didn’t. It was the only cigarette related bill he vetoed of the six that landed on his desk. Brown said he vetoed the bill because there were too many tax measures on the November ballot.
While some tax measures considered for the statewide ballot by different interests–various property tax initiatives, oil severances taxes and others–have not materialized, Brown said he wanted to eliminate the possibility of piling tax measures on local ballots. Whether he took that position because he feared more tax increase measures might sink some of the proposals he is for ignores that he has a valid point. Already scheduled for the ballot are a slew of tax measures sought by local jurisdictions.
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association says over 100 local taxes and bonds are headed to the ballot. Because of the governor’s veto, retailers and voters won’t see local cigarette tax measures added to the number of local ballot tax measures.
The effect of multiple tax measures on the voters is not certain but the possibility is voters will exercise their own veto and mark no if they see a multitude of tax increase measures.