California Revenue and Taxation Code § 96.31

(a) For the 1985–86 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, a jurisdiction shall not impose a property tax rate pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 93, unless it is imposed for one or more of the following purposes: (1) To make annual payments for the interest and principal on general obligation bonds approved by the voters before July 1, 1978, and on bonded indebtedness for the acquisition and improvement of real property approved by the voters by a two-thirds vote after June 4, 1986. (2) To make payments to the State of California under contracts for the sale, delivery, or use of water entered into pursuant to California Water Resources Development Bond Act in Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 12930) of Part 6 of Division 6 of the Water Code or to make payments to the United States or another public agency under voter-approved contracts for the sale, delivery, or use of water or for the repayment of voter-approved obligations for the construction, maintenance, or operation of water conservation, treatment, or distribution facilities, provided that the indebtedness was approved by the voters before July 1, 1978. (3) To make payments pursuant to lease-purchase programs approved by the voters before July 1, 1978, provided that the jurisdiction imposed the property tax rate in the 1982–83 fiscal year. (4) To make payments in support of pension programs approved by the voters before July 1, 1978, provided that the local agency imposed the property tax rate in the 1982–83 or 1983–84 fiscal year. (5) To make payments in support of paramedic, library, or zoo programs approved by the voters before July 1, 1978, provided that the jurisdiction imposed the property tax rate in the 1982–83 fiscal year. (6) To make payments for the interest and principal on an indebtedness, pursuant to Section 5544.2 of the Public Resources Code, approved by the voters before July 1, 1978, provided that the local agency imposed the property tax rate in the 1982–83 fiscal year. (b) In the 1985–86 fiscal year and any fiscal year thereafter, a jurisdiction shall not impose a property tax rate, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 93, in excess of the rate it imposed in the 1982–83 or 1983–84 fiscal year. Notwithstanding the limit imposed by this subdivision, a higher property tax rate may be imposed whenever necessary to make payments for any of the purposes specified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subdivision (a). However, no property tax rate increase in excess of the rate imposed in the 1984–85 fiscal year shall be imposed if the purpose of the rate increase is to fund a reduction in the rates charged for water at the time of the property tax rate increase. (c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), a charter city may levy an ad valorem property tax rate to make payments in support of a retirement system for fire and police employees if all of the following criteria are met: (1) The retirement system is part of the city’s charter and was approved by the voters before July 1, 1978. (2) The city did not levy a separate ad valorem property tax rate to support the retirement system in the 1983–84 fiscal year. (3) The retirement system provides for a cost-of-living adjustment that is indexed to a consumer price index and does not limit the annual increases which may be paid to members after their retirement. (4) The retirement system is not currently available to newly hired fire and police employees and will not be available in the future. (5) Before January 1, 1985, the city unsuccessfully litigated a limit to the cost-of-living adjustment that may be paid to members of the retirement system after their retirement. (6) After July 1, 1985, the city conducted an election and a question authorizing the levying of an ad valorem property tax for the purpose of making payments in support of the retirement system received the affirmative votes of at least 60 percent of those voting on that question. The proceeds of an ad va

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