(a) In addition to the tax authorized by Section 5545, the East Bay Regional Park District may, beginning with the fiscal year 1972–1973, levy and collect, or cause to be levied and collected, a tax of five cents ($0.05) on each one hundred dollars ($100) of the assessed value of all real and personal property within the district. The revenue from this tax shall be spent as follows:

(1) The revenue from four cents ($0.04) per one hundred dollars ($100) shall be spent exclusively for acquisition of new park lands.

(2) The revenue from one cent ($0.01) per one hundred dollars ($100) shall be spent exclusively for the development and operation of such park lands.

(b) Beginning with the fiscal year 1974–1975, the East Bay Regional Park District may levy and collect, or cause to be levied and collected, an additional tax of five cents ($0.05) on each one hundred dollars ($100) of the assessed value of all real and personal property within the district. This tax shall be in addition to the tax authorized by subdivision (a) and may be levied only if, prior to the beginning of the 1974–1975 fiscal year, the district has prepared and adopted a master plan which identifies the district’s policies and goals with regard to the acquisition of new park lands and lists the general type and quantity of such lands proposed to be acquired and the estimated cost thereof. The revenue from this tax shall be divided in the same ratio, and shall be used for the same purposes, as the revenues from the tax authorized by subdivision (a).

(c) Beginning with the fiscal year 1982–1983, the taxes authorized by subdivisions (a) and (b) may be levied to carry out any of the objects or purposes of the district or to pay the obligations of the district. If the district board finds and determines that the full amount of the taxes authorized by subdivisions (a) and (b) will not be needed to carry out the objects and purposes of the district, it need not levy, or cause to be levied, the full amount of the taxes which would otherwise be authorized by subdivisions (a) and (b). These taxes shall be in addition to those authorized by Section 5545.

(d) Any tax imposed pursuant to this section shall be imposed by ordinance of the district board. In the first fiscal year in which any tax authorized by subdivision (a), (b), or (c) is imposed, the ordinance imposing the tax shall not go into effect until 30 days after its final passage, and, notwithstanding Section 9141 of the Elections Code, the ordinance shall be subject to referendum pursuant to Section 9340 of the Elections Code. If it is lawfully possible, the district board shall consolidate the referendum election with another regular or special election.

(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 923, Sec. 168. Effective January 1, 1995.)