Viewpoint
By Mayor Dave Romero

By placing the ½ cent sales tax measure on the ballot, our City Council has placed squarely before City voters the opportunity to determine what quality of City services we desire in our City’s future. 

Those in favor of the measure will point out that this increased sales tax will counter the “pain” caused by the $3 million the State has taken away from us annually.  While Proposition 1A will prevent further takeaways, we won’t get any of the lost funding back.  Proponents will also point out that that about half of the tax revenue will be generated from sales by visitors to our City; and that the new sales tax rate of 7.75% is still among the lowest in California (Santa Maria has been at 7.75% for many years).  Supporters will also say that the City operates efficiently and is a good steward of the public’s resources.  These are all true.

Those opposed to the measure will point out various City programs or expenditures with which they disagree; that the City should simply tighten its belt and live within its means; or that we are living in inflationary times.  Having lived with this problem and agonized over it for the past several years, I believe there are fair and reasonable responses to all of these concerns.

 

However, I’d like to present a slightly different perspective, that is:  The City government doesn’t need the increased revenue – the community needs it.

 

If voters turn down the sales tax increase, the City will still balance its budget every year, largely by reducing services it provides – street maintenance, traffic congestion relief, flood protection, neighborhood and youth programs, open space protection, police and fire response to emergencies.  Few new programs or amenities can be provided under continuing “bare bones” budgets, and the infrastructure (particularly streets) will continue to deteriorate.

 

If voters approve the measure, the City will be able to return to historic levels of investment and service in our community.  We can once again support essential services at proper levels – vital services like traffic enforcement, street maintenance, emergency response, flood protection, and traffic congestion relief.  We can also promote our quality of life goals by once again funding our open space program and working toward a modern senior citizens center.  We have been known as a garden spot, with an award-winning downtown.  We have so much to be proud of, and by investing just a little more in our community (including, the 50% paid by visitors!), we’ll continue to be one of the finest cities in California.