What is Measure SST?
Torrance voters approved Measure SST (Safe Strong Torrance). This is a local sales tax that is collected by the city and is to be spent exclusively on services benefitting the Torrance residents.
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When was Measure SST approved?
June 7, 2022
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How much is the Measure SST tax?
All sales of goods within the City of Torrance that are subject to sales tax. The tax does not apply to services, groceries, and prescription medications.
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How much is the Measure SST tax?
0.5%
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What is the Measure SST Citizens’ Oversight Committee and what does it do?
When Torrance residents approved Measure SST it included strict accountability requirements. This established the Measure SST Citizens’ Oversight Committee, which reviews revenue and expenditure activity of the fund to ensure compliance with City Council’s adopted budget. The Committee reviews the Measure SST Fund annual operating budget which is adopted by Council, reviews semi-annual reports from Staff, the annual third party financial statement audit and advises the Council on any issues identified, if any.
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When/where does the Measure SST Citizens’ Oversight Committee meet?
The Measure SST Citizens’ Oversight Committee meets at least 3 times a year in July, December, and March. They typically meet in the City Council Chambers.
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What is the money collected by Measure SST spent on?
The funds collected by Measure SST address 4 main categories, which are:
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Who determines where the Measure SST money is spent?
The City Council approves the operating budget allocations and the Measure SST Committee monitors the use of funds to ensure it is consistent with the approved budget.
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What is the General Fund?
The General Fund contains the City’s main operating activities funding public safety, public works, culture and recreation, and community development with the bulk of these services supported by taxes. While the City’s audited financial statements contain all General Fund activities, in order to better track specific operating activities, the City’s budget breaks it down further into four separate categories. These four categories include:
General Fund-Operating Fund
General Fund-Operating Fund
- This is the City’s main operating fund
- The sub-fund tracks the revenues and expenditures related to Measure SST
- This series of sub-funds tracks activities related to the Information Technology Asset Replacement Fund, Defibrillators Replacement Fund and the Drone/ALPR Replacement Fund.
- This sub-fund tracks the City’s Reserve Fund (Economic Anomaly), which requires City Council action to contribute or utilize its balance.
Where are the Measure SST Funds stored and tracked?
The Measure SST Funds are tracked within the overall General Fund, separated in a sub-fund.
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What happens to unspent Measure SST balances?
Unspent Measure SST balances remain within the SST sub-fund and are available to be budgeted in the next fiscal year on Measure SST activities.
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How much is in the Measure SST Fund?
As of June 30, 2023, the Measure SST sub-fund has an unassigned fund balance of $514,074.
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Which projects receive Measure SST funds?