Cotati Election 2017: Early Measure G Results

COTATI, CA — The city of Cotati's Measure G appears headed to approval, according to early election-night results posted by the Sonoma County Registar of Voters Office. Of voters within the city, 78.9 percent — or 890 — said yes on Measure G. Meanwhile, the no votes numbered 238, or 21.1 percent.

Although there were no polls open this Election Day because of the recent wildfires, Sonoma County Elections Manager Deena Thompson-Stalder told Patch preliminary, unofficial results for Measure G and other local elections would be released this evening.

The election was conducted entirely by mail-in ballots. As of Tuesday morning, Thompson-Sadler told Patch the registrar's office had received 6,000 of 21,000 ballots mailed to voters in Cotati, Windsor and the Wilmar Union School District in Petaluma, where local measures are at stake.

Cotati voters are considering Measure G, a tax on marijuana cultivation businesses up to $25 per square foot of cultivation area, adjusted annually by the Consumer Price Index or eight percent of gross receipts, and up to eight percent of gross receipts on cannabis manufacturing, distribution and dispensary businesses.

The revenue will be used to maintain city services and address cannabis industry impacts. The tax will provide approximately $300,000 a year. The money would go in Cotati's general fund budget and can be used for any city purpose. The tax does not apply to the use or cultivation of cannabis for personal use as authorized by state law.

Measure G requires approval of a majority of voters. It already has the approval of the Cotati Mayor and City Council.

Voters had the opportunity to drop off their completed ballots until the 8 p.m. deadline.

Check back here on Rohnert Park-Cotati Patch for more election-night results as they come in.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.