To evaluate ballot titles and produce a 1 – 5 rating here are the criteria used.
There are three types of ballot measures:
- Ballot Measures other than a Tax or Bond such as creation or changing of zoning regulations or the City Charter, changes of regulations, advisory bodies, etc.:
- Tax measure that are NOT Bonds
- Bond Measures
Evaluation Criteria: Ballot Measures other than a Tax or Bond such as creation or changing of zoning regulations or the City Charter, changes of regulations, advisory bodies, etc.: For measures which are neither a tax, bond nor spending issue, the emphasis of the evaluation should be on clarity of language. Some of the template criteria may be inapplicable. The heading should be self-explanatory in the description, so any person could reasonably understand what is being proposed.
Information needed
1-Intent of the Measure – Is it clear?
2-Are there any financial effects if this measure passes? If so- how much?
3-Duration of the measure if it passes; presumably permanent since it’s a change to the County Charter
4-Where will the money go that is spent on this if it passes, if applicable
5-Does the measure deal with 1 or more separate issues?
6-What % needed to pass (currently this is always stated by Registrar so ignore)
7.-Extraneous language unrelated to the matter which could be considered as deceptive to the voter.
Calculations: take total points you’ve assigned, (We’ll say your answer is 3); then divide 3 by maximum of 6 points (there being 7 questions) producing .42. Then to convert .42 to a 5-point Yelp Score, take your results of .42 and multiply by 5, resulting in a Yelp score of 2.1.
Tax Measure, not a Bond.
Evaluation Criteria: Information that should be in a Tax Measure’s ballot wording. Based on that information the voter should be able to easily make an informed decision:
Information needed:
1-Intent and structure of tax (e.g., a % for a sales tax, $ per $1000 for a transfer tax, or a $ per parcel or $ per square foot for a parcel tax)
2- Amount of the tax generated per year
3 -Duration of the tax; (BTW, the statement “until ended by the voters” means the tax is permanent.)
4- Is this a Special or General tax? (There are no General tax proposals on this ballot.)
5- Where is the money specifically going?
6-Is there another similar tax already in place, or is this an extension or renewal of an existing tax? If so that tax info should be included.
7-Will this take 2/3, vote or simple majority to pass? (All 2/3rds this round, but 55% only for school bonds.)
8- Extraneous language unrelated to the matter which could be considered as misleading or prejudicial to the voter.
Calculations: take total points you’ve assigned, (We’ll say your answer is 4); then divide 4 by maximum of 7 points (there being 8 questions) producing .5. Then to convert .5 to a 5-point Yelp Score, take your results of .5 and multiply by 5, resulting in a Yelp score of 2
Evaluation Criteria: Bond Measure –
Information needed:
1. Intent of bond
2. Amount of the bond
3. The annual cost should be stated in $ per $100,000 of assessed value of a property
4. Duration of the bond and total estimated cost to repay the bond
5. Is there another similar bond already in place? If so that bond information should be included.
6. What is the money specifically being spent for?
7. Is it a Capital appreciation bond or a standard bond?*
8. Extraneous language unrelated to the matter which could be considered as misleading or prejudicial. Calculations: take total points you’ve assigned, (We’ll say your answer is 4); then divide 4 by maximum of 7 points (there being 8 questions) producing .5. Then to convert .5 to a 5-point Yelp Score, take your results of .5 and multiply by 5, resulting in a Yelp score of