Sales tax increase garnering little support among Modesto candidates

It can’t be good for supporters of Measure G – Modesto’s half-percent general sales tax increase — when about three-quarters of the 13 candidates for mayor and City Council in the November election do not support it.

The Modesto Bee polled the candidates and nine said they don’t support the measure – which also will be on the November ballot – while three said they did. Mayoral candidate Armando Arreola could not be reached for comment.

The concerns of those who are against the measure include that because it is a general tax that goes into the city’s general fund, it can be used for any general government purpose. They say there is no guarantee the council or future councils will spend the money as the city intends, on its Safer Neighborhoods Initiative.

Measure G is expected to bring in $14 million annually over its eight-year life if it passes. The Safer Neighborhoods Initiative calls for spending nearly all the money on public safety – such as hiring more police officers – but also on other efforts to strengthen neighborhoods, such as dealing with nuisance properties. Measure G would increase Modesto’s sales tax from 7.625 percent to 8.125 percent.

City officials say Modesto’s revenues have not fully recovered from the recession and that the city does not have the money to restore public safety and other services that were cut in the economic downturn. For instance, officials say, Modesto has about a quarter fewer police officers than it did in 2008 while crime continues to be a scourge for the city.

But some of the candidates question whether the city has made the right choices in how it spends its money.

“We don’t have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem,” said council candidate Dave Wright, who does not support the tax. He added that the issue the city needs to solve is its rising pension costs. Modesto officials say they have taken steps to do so, but say the city and many others still face paying more to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.

And some of the candidates say voters are telling them they don’t support Measure G.

Council candidate Mani Grewal, who does not support the measure, says he has talked to hundreds of voters and can count on one hand those who support the tax increase.

“They don’t like the idea that it’s a general tax that can go anywhere. The general fund issue is the main reason people are not supporting it,” Grewal said.

Council candidate Kristi Ah You, who supports the measure, said the majority of voters she has talked with support spending more on public safety but are wary of Measure G.

“I want the tax to pass because we need a big solution for our city,” she said. “But I don’t believe it’s going to pass.”

Some candidates say there simply is a general mistrust of government among voters and that mistrust extends to City Hall. Some of that mistrust is based on city officials warning of dire consequences if the city does not bring in more revenue and those consequences not materializing.

But many of the candidates say they and voters they have talked with would support or at least consider a public safety tax. As a special tax, it could only be spent on its specific purpose, such as roads or libraries, or in this case, public safety. Special taxes require two-thirds voter approval to pass, while a general tax, such as Measure G, requires a simple majority.

Mayor Garrad Marsh said he supports a public safety tax but does not believe it would get enough votes. Two countywide special taxes for roads both failed at the polls in recent years because they could not reach the two-thirds threshold.

“I want a special tax,” he said. “But I’m going to tell you ... a special tax can’t pass.”

That’s why he supports Measure G, because as a general tax he believes it has a better chance of passing. Two years ago, however, city voters rejected Measure X, the city’s 1 percent general sales tax. It received 49 percent of the vote.

Councilman John Gunderson said it’s time for voters to put aside their distrust in government and vote for a tax that will make Modesto a safer and better city.

“I think it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “Modesto has been challenged. We need more police. The concerns about where the money will go, it’s kind of a lame argument. You have to have some trust. If you say, ‘Council, I don’t trust you,’ then you probably don’t trust any council. But what do you want your city to look like? At some point you have to decide to trust your local government and move forward.”

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 2:02 PM with the headline "Sales tax increase garnering little support among Modesto candidates."