Former San Diego City Councilman Scott Sherman has filed a legal challenge to the ballot materials for the city’s “Empty Homes Tax” measure that will go before voters this summer, which Sherman claims feature false and misleading statements.
In a series of legal petitions filed this week, Sherman alleges voters are being presented with inaccurate information regarding the effects of Measure A, which if passed will impose a tax on second homes that sit empty for more than half the year. The City Council voted 8-1 earlier this month to place the measure on the June 2 ballot.
Sherman claims that the ballot question, ballot argument and official impartial analysis connected to Measure A falsely suggest the measure will confer certain guaranteed results such as increased housing availability and millions in annual revenue that will go toward affordable housing, homelessness prevention and other city services.
He also says the materials claim there will be independent financial audits of how the measure’s taxes are spent, but that the measure’s language does not specifically state that audits are required…