Argus-Courier Editorial: Lessons from the election

As Petaluma city officials gather in the wake of the defeat of Measure Q to consider their options for a future tax measure to fix roads and build the Rainier interchange and crosstown connector, they would do well to carefully consider several key lessons from the recent election debacle.|

As Petaluma city officials gather in the wake of the defeat of Measure Q to consider their options for a future tax measure to fix roads and build the Rainier interchange and crosstown connector, they would do well to carefully consider several key lessons from the recent election debacle.

Lesson Number 1: In a future tax measure, stick to the top priorities and don’t bundle in a big laundry list of non-capital items, like maintaining storm drains and hiring police officers - things that voters logically expect should be paid for with general fund revenues. For voters, it is all about fixing roads and building the Rainier interchange. Next time, craft a measure that will achieve that and only that.

Lesson Number 2: Ask for a specific amount of money, for a set number of years to get the job done. Measure Q’s lack of a sunset date made it understandably unappealing to many voters. So did the size of the increase: a full 1-cent general tax. A large “forever” tax with no guarantee on how it would be spent was a huge turn-off for voters. A specific tax, unlike a general tax, would assure voters that the money will be spent as specified. Yes, a specific tax requires a two-thirds voter approval threshold versus the simple majority voter approval rate required for a general tax, and that makes it harder to pass. However, with a unified city council endorsement and a guarantee that the money will be spent to fix roads and build Rainier, reaching that higher threshold would be very achievable.

Lesson Number 3: Develop a consensus on the city council along with a broad base of grassroots support throughout the community among people committed to getting the tax measure approved. Measure Q was developed and promoted by a handful of city officials and had very little communitywide support. The campaign for its passage was poorly planned and executed, and lacked the essential door-to-door canvassing necessary to educate the electorate and get out the vote. Conversely, the opposition was passionate, vocal and diverse. The proposition was roundly opposed by conservative groups who were oddly aligned with ultra-liberal, progressive voters led by current and former elected officials with a history of opposing the Rainier interchange, including Mayor David Glass. The lack of council consensus, coupled with strong opposition from the right and the far left political factions, doomed the measure.

Lesson Number 4: Demonstrate fiscal discipline. Voters will be disinclined to approve any tax increase if the city does nothing to control its skyrocketing pension costs that are now approaching nearly 20 percent of all general fund expenditures, deeply eroding the quality and quantity of public services. Petaluma’s unfunded pension liability is a whopping $55 million and growing larger every day. By negotiating reductions in employee salaries and benefits in advance of the next tax proposal, voters would be assured that the city had done everything possible to reduce such costs.

By adhering to the lessons above, city officials should be able to craft a long-term solution to fix problems voters consider to be a top priorities. Additionally, Petaluma officials should also enhance the level of dialogue with their counterparts in county government, especially Supervisor David Rabbitt, and that should start with rethinking the city’s position on a countywide ballot measure in June that county supervisors approved just last week. The as-yet unnamed measure - a quarter-cent sales tax increase for five years to fund road maintenance needs - would generate an estimated $20 million a year, with 56 percent of the money going to cities’ roads and the rest going to unincorporated county roads. Petaluma’s share would come to about $2 million a year.

Assuming Measure Q would pass, Petaluma city leaders had previously told county officials that Petaluma’s share should go towards widening Highway 101 through Petaluma. That will certainly need to be reconsidered in light of Measure Q’s failure. While $2 million a year will not, in and of itself, solve Petaluma’s $100 million road maintenance problem, it would at least be a start.

Without additional tax revenues, the Rainier interchange/cross-town connector will not be built, traffic congestion will worsen and Petaluma’s streets will remain in a perpetual state of disrepair. For Petaluma’s new city council, as well as City Manager John Brown, finding the money to fix these problems should be their top priority in 2015.

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