Voters today decide fate of marijuana and library taxes, officeseekers
Voters go to the polls Tuesday to elect representatives to the Modesto City Council, Modesto City Schools and Modesto Irrigation District as well as representatives to school, fire and irrigation districts throughout Stanislaus County.
Modesto voters also will decide the fate of Measure T, a cannabis business tax of as much as 10 percent on the gross receipts of these businesses. The City Council has yet to decide whether to allow these businesses in Modesto. But if the council does, it will have the ability to tax them if the measure passes. The city can use the proceeds from the tax for any general city purpose.
Measure T requires a simple majority to pass.
And voters throughout the county will weigh in on Measure S, an extension of the 1/8-cent sales tax that helps fund the county library system. Measure S would extend the sales tax for an additional 12 years. The tax can only be used for the county’s 13 branch libraries and provides 89 percent of the library system’s $10.5 million annual budget.
Measure S requires two-thirds approval to pass.
Some of the other races:
Voters will elect three members to the Modesto City Council. District 2 incumbent Tony Madrigal faces challengers Homero Mejia and Jon Rodriguez. District 4 incumbent Bill Zoslocki is being challenged by Tyler Ray, and District 5 incumbent Jenny Kenoyer faces challenger Joe Day.
Voters will choose among several candidates to represent Modesto City Schools board Areas 5 and 7. In Area 5, the candidates are Rickey McGill, Charlene West and Michael Scheid. In Area 7, the candidates are Adolfo Lopez, Ryan Schambers and Matthew Harrington. None of the candidates is an incumbent. Board members Cindy Marks and Chad Brown are running unopposed in their areas.
Modesto Irrigation District board member Jake Wenger is being challenged by Stu Gilman to represent MID’s Divsion 4, which covers northwest Modesto, Salida and Wood Colony. Board members John Mensinger and Paul Campbell, representing other divisions, are unopposed.
The polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, go to stanvote.com.
This story was originally published November 5, 2017 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Voters today decide fate of marijuana and library taxes, officeseekers."