Transactions & Use Tax Oversight Committee

Meetings

The Transactions & Use Tax Oversight Committee meetings take place on the call of the Committee Chair at times to be announced.

Agendas & Archives

Meeting agendas and agenda archives for the Transactions & Use Tax Oversight Committee can be found here. 

To review the Transaction & Use Tax Oversight Committee's Annual Report Archive from 2010-2013, click here.

Committee Members

Background & Overview of Committee Duties

The Transactions and Use Tax Oversight Committee was established on December 3, 2008, by the adoption of Ordinance Number 1385. In 2008, Arcata voters approved a ballot measure imposing a $0.0075 sales tax, also known as a “general transactions and use tax.” This tax provides funds to make road improvements and to provide police services based on the needs of the community. Under state law, money received from this sales tax must be paid to the City’s general fund, which the City Council authorizes spending from.

The Transactions & Use Tax Oversight Committee’s primary function is to review spending from the general fund, related to streets and police activity budgets, and to provide an annual report to the City Council with recommendations for general fund spending for road improvements and public safety for the upcoming fiscal year.

The full list of powers and duties of the Transactions & Use Tax Oversight Committee are specified in the Arcata Municipal Code, Sections 2270 to 2276.

The Committee consists of 7 members, and 5 members are selected by the City Council, 1 member is selected by the Chief of Police and 1 member is selected by the Director of Public Works. Of the 7 members, 5 must live within Arcata City limits and 2 may live or work in the Arcata Planning Area.

The Transactions and Use Tax Oversight Committee will automatically sunset in November 2028, when the sales tax is no longer imposed.