SALINAS, Calif. -- If you want more officers on the street, some Central Coast community members said residents should foot the bill. Central Coast News has been telling you how two groups in Salinas are proposing a sales tax increase to pay for more officers and a new police station.
Monday was another attempt to round up support for the proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase over the next 10 years during a meeting held at Cesar Chavez Library.
"If you want the services and you want to live in a good, strong community you have to be willing to pay for it," said Gloria Moore, vice chair of the Public Safety Funding Committee.
Central Coast News looked at similar measures in the past to see exactly where voters' money went.
Voters in Santa Cruz voted to raise the utility tax in 2010 to pay for public safety, and that's where their money went. The increase from 7 to 8.5 percent generates about a million dollars every year.
Before the tax was approved, the city was looking at a $10 million deficit that year. That deficit has dropped to about $2 million.
Not only that, the city was able to save eight police officer positions on the chopping block.
In Marina, voters approved measures M and N in 2010. M raised the sales tax by one percent to fund city services, mostly police and fire, while N called for a two-percent increase on the hotel-motel tax, meaning visitors would foot the bill for those same services.
Voters' money helped generate about $2 million a year, mostly for public safety.
Instead of a $4-million deficit at the time, it went down to about $1.5 million.
Community members in Salinas want voters to approve the quarter-cent sales tax increase over the next 10 years. Where your money is spent in public safety is still being worked out.
They said what the people vote for is where the money will be spent, since this is a special tax that goes to a specific area.
The next community meeting is April 1 at Salinas City Hall. The time has not been set as of Monday night.
The extra taxes are expected to bring in about $50 million.
