2-Word Ballot Measure Mistake Could Cost Santa Clara Water District $548M
SAN JOSE (CBS/AP) -- A two-word mistake could threaten a half-billion dollar tax measure in Santa Clara County.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District was seeking voter approval in November for a $548 million tax increase.
The district submitted a 77-word summary for the ballot to election officials this month. But the word limit is 75 words.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
When it learned about the error, the district held a board meeting to approve a new, shorter version.
But the meeting wasn't publicized far enough in advance to meet requirements of California's open meeting law.
The Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association threatened to sue unless the district pulled the measure off the ballot.
Water district board Chairwoman Linda LeZotte said that would be devastating to the district.
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