Overview:

Vernon Guaranteed Income Measure – Draft Overview

This proposal would create a 2-year guaranteed income program for Vernon residents.

• Every registered voter in Vernon would receive $1,500 per month for 24 months.

• The City must launch the program within 6 months of voter approval.

• The program is funded directly from the City’s reserves.

• Payments will be made in addition to other city services – no one loses eligibility.

• The City may run the program directly or hire an outside administrator, but administrative costs are capped at 5% and cannot reduce the $1,500/month payments.

• The City will publish public reports during the program and a final evaluation at the end.

This is a draft for feedback, not yet filed with the City Clerk.

Working text (legal draft):

Vernon Guaranteed Income Pilot

Section 1. Title

This measure shall be known and may be cited as the Vernon Guaranteed Income Pilot Initiative.

Section 2. Findings and Purpose

The People of the City of Vernon find and declare:

(a) Cities across California — including Compton, Long Beach, and South Los Angeles — have successfully implemented guaranteed income pilots funded with public resources. These programs demonstrated measurable public benefits such as improved financial stability, increased civic engagement, and enhanced public health outcomes.

(b) Vernon’s small residential population, strong fiscal position, and unique governance make it an ideal location for a measurable, equitable, and time-limited guaranteed income program.

(c) This measure establishes a fixed-term pilot program to directly benefit all registered voters of Vernon while protecting the city’s financial health and business-friendly environment.

Section 3. Program Requirements

(a) Implementation Deadline: The City shall fully implement the program within six (6) months of this measure’s adoption (whether by the City Council under Elections Code §9215 or by approval of the voters).

(b) Duration: The program shall operate for twenty-four (24) consecutive months from the first month in which payments are issued.

(c) Benefit Amount:

1. If adopted by the City Council under Elections Code §9215 prior to submission to the voters: $1,350 per month per eligible resident during the pilot.

2. If adopted by voter approval at an election: $1,500 per month per eligible resident during the pilot.

(d) Self-enrollment. The City shall make enrollment publicly available to all eligible residents but is not required to individually locate or contact residents. Each resident is responsible for completing enrollment and eligibility verification.

(e) Eligibility and verification. Eligibility shall be limited to individuals who are registered voters of the City of Vernon as of the effective date, subject to a clear and transparent residency and voter-registration verification process established by the City or its administrator.

Section 4. Funding and Allocations

(a) Source. The program shall be funded from the City’s General Fund reserves, including assigned and unassigned reserves, which are hereby unassigned as necessary to fund the program.

(b) Appropriation. Within sixty (60) days of the effective date, the City shall appropriate the full amount needed for the pilot’s benefit payments and permitted administrative costs.

(c) Administrative costs. Administrative costs shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the total program budget and shall not reduce the monthly benefit amounts specified in Section 3(c).

(d) Allocation when adopted by City Council under §9215. When Section 3(c)(1) applies, the $150/month difference between the voter-approved amount and the council-adopted amount shall be allocated as follows: $100 per eligible resident per month to the City’s General Fund and $50 per eligible resident per month to a local nonprofit organization operating within the City that supports community programs. The City shall designate the recipient nonprofit(s) by resolution using objective, viewpoint-neutral criteria and shall administer the development fund transparently.

Section 5. Administration and Transparency

(a) The City may administer the program directly or contract with a third-party administrator.

(b) The City or its administrator shall publish quarterly public reports of disbursements, administrative costs, and participation.

(c) No administrative or staffing costs may be deducted from the residents’ monthly benefit amounts.

Section 6. Legal Effect; Self-Execution; Enforcement

(a) Self-executing. This measure is self-executing and binding on the City of Vernon.

(b) Ministerial duty. The City Council, City Manager, and all City officers shall perform all acts necessary to implement this measure as ministerial duties. Failure to do so shall constitute a violation of this ordinance enforceable by writ of mandate or other appropriate relief.

(c) Liberal construction. The provisions of this measure shall be liberally construed to fulfill its purposes.

(d) Severability. If any provision is held invalid, the remainder shall remain in effect.

Section 7. Effective Date

This measure shall take effect six (6) months after adoption (by the City Council under Elections Code §9215 or by voter approval), and the City shall commence payments in the first month beginning on or after the effective date.