Lines drawn in sales tax debate
Arguments for and against Petaluma’s Measure Q, a permanent 1-percent sales tax increase, have painted two divergent pictures of the “Better Roads Safer Petaluma Measure,” which will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot. But amid the accusations and promises made on each side of the issue, a pivotal question remains - exactly how would the money from the general sales tax measure be spent?
If the measure passes, city officials say the tax would bring in $10 million in revenue each year for projects such as road repairs, traffic relief and public safety improvements. The move would raise Petaluma’s sales tax rate from the lowest in Sonoma County at 8.25 percent, to the county’s highest rate along with the City of Cotati at 9.25 percent.
Official ballot arguments were released last week, and proponents of the sales tax measure - Councilmembers Mike Healy, Kathy Miller and Gabe Kearney, along with Petaluma Police Officers Association President Garrett Glaviano and retired nurse Judith Hillery - wrote that the tax measure would allow Petaluma to achieve street and sidewalk improvements, accelerate construction of the Rainier cross-town connector and interchange, restore police positions, replace public safety vehicles, repair street lights and have safe police and fire stations.
“Your council majority understands the community’s priorities and will work tirelessly to make sure that the priority projects listed in Measure Q - with streets and the Rainier Connector at the top of the list - get funded and achieved,” the argument states.
But authors of the bill’s opposing argument - Mayor David Glass, Councilmember Teresa Barrett, council candidate Janice Cader-Thompson, Petalumans for Responsible Government Executive Director Bryant Moynihan and Sonoma County Taxpayers’ Association Executive Director Dan Drummond - say the measure is “deceptively titled,” representing “empty promises of proponents who want to lull” voters “into believing this tax will pay for road repairs and police officers.”
“Measure Q is a ‘general purpose’ tax that goes directly into Petaluma’s general fund where it can be used for anything a majority of the city council wants to spend it on from pensions to personnel perks,” the argument reads.
While the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce won’t be announcing its position on the tax until September, several other local organizations have already taken stances on the measure. Both the police and fire unions are supporting Measure Q, according to representatives.
The Petaluma Fire Department union president Ken Dick said the decision was made to support the measure after city staff explained the city’s financial situation. Dick said firefighters’ ability to do their jobs relies on the upkeep of Petaluma’s road system, and traffic relief from the Rainier connector could improve response time to emergencies.
Glaviano, who signed the argument in favor of the tax hike, confirmed in an email that the police union will be actively campaigning for the measure.
“Without the resources gained from this tax measure, the level of service the police department can provide will continue to decline,” Glaviano wrote. “The residents of Petaluma deserve better service, but we can only do as much as our resources allow.”
Spending priorities
The proposed tax increase would be permanent, which is necessary to fund the majority of the measure’s potential projects. To make these improvements, the city could spend between $336 and $466 million, according to project cost estimates from a July city staff report.
That includes $86 to $210 million for street and sidewalk maintenance and repair, $88 million for the Rainier connector and interchange, $39 million for flood protection and storm drainage, $53 million for city vehicle replacement, $45 to $51 million to restore public safety positions and $25 million for public facilities.
City Manager John Brown said when deciding how to spend the first fiscal year’s collection of sales tax revenue, the council would likely rely on several “screening mechanisms” to sift through potential expenditures.
One major consideration would be the readiness of a project. Brown gave the example of the downtown fire station relocation - a shovel-ready project that has already been through the site planning and architectural review process. Located on D Street, the current station, built in 1936, is not seismically stable.
“I would put that one on top of the readiness list,” Brown said.
Brown said another place to start could be public safety vehicle replacements. The need to repair or replace degrading vehicles was analyzed and presented to the council earlier this year.
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