MY Position on Measure V Sales Tax Measure

By Gary W. Plass

I Support Measure V

I am not usually supportive of tax increases, however I do support Measure V. I have realized that we have to become more dependent on our community as the state takes more and more revenues that were historically returned to the cities and counties. The additional tax, if approved will go directly to our general Fund. The General Fund is supported by sales, property and a small percentage of transient opponent tax (TOT). This the fund that is reduced heavily when the states take tax increments previously allocated to the City. We need this temporary boost in sales tax to help stabilize and chip away at the structural deficit we now face. The tax has a sunset clues of ten years and the Council at anytime can review the state of the city's finances and stop the tax. I am not looking at this tax as the solution to our budget problem. We must and I will continue to reduce our expenditure within the city. My hope would be that we can funnel in time a large portion of this increase in sales tax to the repair of our streets.