The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce is continually working for you by analyzing, studying and following issues coming out of Sacramento, San Luis Obispo and SLO County that could potentially impact your organization, and the entire community. When the polls open on November 4, you will be asked to vote in support or opposition to a wide range of propositions and measures that could affect business in SLO County.
With the help of our volunteer committees and Board of Directors, the SLO Chamber has analyzed many of the ballot propositions to evaluate the impacts to our local business community.
Click on any of the Measures or Propositions below for more information.
Click here for the downloadable PDF
[accordion] [acc_item title=”YES on Measure D: SLCUSD Bond”]YES on Measure D: SLCUSD Bond
Description: To improve the quality of education; construct/renovate classrooms, facilities, labs and infrastructure; update career education programs for job readiness; replace leaky roofs; improve student access to computers and technology; upgrade/ replace outdated electrical, plumbing, and sewer systems; make health, safety, and energy efficiency improvements; shall San Luis Coastal Unified School District issue $177 million of bonds at legal interest rates, have an independent citizens’ oversight committee, and use NO money for administrative salaries or be taken by the state?
Chamber Position: As it aligns with the importance it places on quality of community and serving the educational needs of our region, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce supports the passage of the San Luis Coastal Unified School District bond measure for renovation of Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo High Schools and enhanced classroom facilities, labs and infrastructure at
[/acc_item] [acc_item title=”YES on Measure G: Renews Half-Percent Sales Tax”]Description: To protect and maintain essential services and facilities — such as open space preservation; bike lanes and sidewalks; public safety; neighborhood street paving and code enforcement; flood protection; senior programs; and other vital services and capital improvement projects — shall the City’s Municipal Code be amended to extend the current half-percent local sales tax for eight years, with independent annual audits, public goal- setting and budgeting, and a Citizens’ Oversight Commission?
Chamber Position: The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce supports renewal of a general tax measure that will continue the half-percent sales tax (currently known as Measure Y) and incorporates the following accountability and transparency tools as adopted by the SLO City Council: an eight year sunset clause, the establishment of a Citizens’ Oversight Commission, the adoption of a Fiscal Responsibility Philosophy which encompasses a commitment by
City leadership to further address personnel costs and escalating pension obligations, and the creation of user friendly tools to allow better public engagement and understanding of municipal finances such as an online metrics dashboard.
Description: To repair, construct/acquire facilities, sites/equipment, prepare students/returning veterans for universities/good paying jobs, address severe budget cuts by updating aging classrooms, improving/maintaining nursing, paramedic, 9-1-1 medical training, welding, engineering, automotive, early childhood education/other career education programs, repairing deteriorating gas/electrical lines, upgrading technology, shall San Luis Obispo County Community College District issue $275,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, requiring citizens’ oversight, independent audits, all funds used locally?
Chamber Position: Because the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce values high quality instruction, local job training programs and educational excellence from students, it supports the passage of the Cuesta College bond measure for improved classroom facilities, technology upgrades and a new career training facility as the community college is an essential element of our existing and future economy.
[/acc_item] [acc_item title=”YES on Proposition 1: Water Bond. Funding for Quality, Supply, Treatment, and Storage Projects”]Description: Authorizes $7.12 billion in general obligation bonds for state water supply infrastructure projects, including surface and groundwater storage, ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration, and drinking water protection. Fiscal Impact: Increased state bond costs averaging $360 million annually over 40 years. Local government savings for water-related projects, likely averaging a couple hundred million dollars annually over the next few decades.
Chamber Position: The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce supports State Proposition 1 which authorizes $7.12 billion in general obligation bonds for California’s water supply infrastructure, citing its economic benefits towards ensuring a long term reliable water supply for businesses and communities.
[/acc_item] [acc_item title=”YES on Proposition 2: State Budget. Budget Stabilization Account. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.”]Description: Requires annual transfer of state general fund revenues to budget stabilization account. Requires half the revenues be used to repay state debts. Limits use of remaining funds to emergencies or budget deficits. Fiscal Impact: Long-term state savings from faster payment of existing debts. Different levels of state budget reserves, depending on economy and decisions by elected officials. Smaller local reserves for some school districts.
Chamber Position: The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce supports State Proposition 2, altering California’s existing requirements for the Budget Stabilization Account (“rainy day fund”) as established by Proposition 58.
[/acc_item] [acc_item title=”Proposition 45: Healthcare Insurance. Rate Changes. Initiative Statute.”]Description: Requires Insurance Commissioner’s approval before health insurer can change its rates or anything else affecting the charges associated with health insurance. Provides for public notice, disclosure, and hearing, and subsequent judicial review. Exempts employer large group health plans. Fiscal Impact: Increased state administrative costs to regulate health insurance, likely not exceeding the low millions of dollars annually in most years, funded from fees paid by health insurance companies.
Chamber Position: No position.
[/acc_item] [acc_item title=”NO on Proposition 46: Drug and Alcohol Testing of Doctors. Medical Negligence Lawsuits. Initiative Statute.”]Description: Requires drug testing of doctors. Requires review of statewide prescription database before prescribing controlled substances. Increases $250,000 pain/suffering cap in medical negligence lawsuits for inflation. Fiscal Impact: State and local government costs from raising the cap on medical malpractice damages ranging from tens of millions to several hundred million dollars annually, offset to some extent by savings from requirements on
health care providers.
Chamber Position: The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce opposes State Proposition 46 which would increase California’s cap on non-economic damages that can be assessed in medical negligence lawsuits from $250,000 to over $1 million and require drug and alcohol testing of doctors, because it only limits the nebulous assessment of pain and suffering and does not increase the actual cap on damages.
[/acc_item] [acc_item title=”Proposition 47: Criminal Sentences. Misdemeanor Penalties. Initiative Statute.”]Description: Requires misdemeanor sentence instead of felony for certain drug and property offenses. Inapplicable to persons with prior conviction for serious or violent crime and registered sex offenders. Fiscal Impact: State and county criminal justice savings potentially in the high hundreds of millions of dollars annually. State savings spent on school truancy and dropout prevention, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and victim services.
Chamber Position: No position.
[/acc_item] [acc_item title=”Accordion item9Proposition 48: Indian Gaming Compact. Referendum.”]Description: A “Yes” vote approves, and a “No” vote rejects, tribal gaming compacts between the state and the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians and Wiyot Tribe. Fiscal Impact: One- time payments ($16 million to $35 million) from Indian tribes to state and local governments
to address costs related to the operation of a new casino.
Chamber Position: No position.