Gov. Jerry Brown's administration released a draft bill Monday to place tax hike extensions on the ballot and shift services to local government.
The ballot measure is dubbed the "Public Safety and Public Education Act of 2011." It would ask voters to extend higher tax rates on sales and vehicles through June 30, 2016, as well income tax through the 2015 tax year.
The proposal is drafted as a constitutional amendment, which requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to reach the ballot, including at least two Republicans in each house. Brown wants lawmakers to approve the measure by next week.
The state would deposit the additional sales and vehicle tax money in a new "Local Revenue Fund 2011" account. Once the taxes expire, the state would agree to provide local governments at least as much money as the taxes would have generated. This promise is aimed at appeasing concerns that the state would shift various public safety functions, such as parole, without providing money after five years to pay for them.
The state would also create an Education Protection Account, into which it would direct 6.5 percent of income tax revenues each month for K-12 schools and community colleges.
The bill can be found here in PDF form.
Brown officials also released a summary of changes to the governor's realignment plan here.
Update (11:50 a.m.): Added details about the proposal being a constitutional amendment.
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