Sunnyvale Council Reconsiders Property Transfer Tax Ballot Measure The Sunnyvale City Council is once again deliberating on a property transfer tax ballot measure. In a 5-1 vote, the council has decided to discuss the possibility of implementing a property transfer tax on the November 2024 ballot. The council will commence discussions on the details of the tax early next year, with the aim of generating additional revenue to support the city’s services and budget requirements. Mayor Larry Klein and Councilmember Richard Mehlinger reintroduced the discussion in the hopes of finding alternative ways for the city to meet its growing demands. Mayor Klein expressed concerns about limited options for initiating new programs and securing funding without considering reductions in service levels. The council had previously deliberated on a property transfer tax proposal in 2022, but the last-minute proposition failed to garner enough support and was not included on the ballot. The 2022 proposal involved a 0.75% tax on all property transfers worth $4 million or more. The revenue generated from the tax was intended to be allocated to supportive services and other liabilities, such as the city’s pension plan. Councilmember Russ Melton, who opposed the measure, has not changed his stance since the 2022 vote. Melton stated that future discussions would require extensive research by city employees, diverting their attention from other ongoing projects in the city. He voted against the measure to save staff time. While the property tax issue has been on the council’s agenda since October, it has yet to be discussed due to delayed meetings. Councilmembers are concerned that the limited time available before the August deadline to file for the November 2024 election will hamper efforts to research the measure and poll eligible residents. The proposed transfer tax takes inspiration from San Jose’s Measure E, which imposes a tax on property transfers exceeding $2 million. The funds generated from Measure E are dedicated to affordable housing initiatives. Previous polls sponsored by Sunnyvale revealed that approximately half of the over 400 respondents consistently supported the transfer tax proposal for 2022. The Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, represented by government affairs director Ryan Carrigan, is closely monitoring the process and assessing how the tax might impact homeowners in Sunnyvale. The association aims to ensure that homeownership remains attainable in the city. Councilmember Mehlinger, who was not part of the council in 2022, followed the previous tax proposal closely and believes that the $4 million threshold under consideration at the time would have had minimal impact on single-family homeowners. He looks forward to discussing the matter with other councilmembers and is open to hearing alternative ideas to address the city’s budget needs. As personal injury bloggers, it is important for us to stay informed about local government decisions that may impact citizens. We will continue to follow the progress of the property transfer tax ballot measure in Sunnyvale and assess its potential effects on residents.