Tonight, San Clemente voters decide on a half-cent sales tax increase to generate funds that would be used exclusively for sand replenishment efforts along the city’s disappearing coastline.
Initial results at 11:30 p.m. showed 63.29% of voters — 18,065 votes — were for the sales tax measure, while 36.71% — 10,477 votes — were against it.
The measure needs a supermajority — at least 66.7% of voters supporting it — to pass since it’s an earmarked tax.
The city’s sales tax is currently 7.75%. If the measure is approved, the tax would increase to 8.25%
Coastal erosion has been chipping away at San Clemente’s shoreline for decades as the city battles landslides, bridge failures and sand loss along the coast.
[Read: San Clemente Needs More Money For Sand]
The sales tax increase is meant to fund future projects that will bring more sand to the dwindling coastline. If approved, the increase will generate an estimated $7 million annually — enough for the city to place nearly 150,000 cubic yards of sand annually in addition to beach maintenance.
Angelina Hicks is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13
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