StanCOG leaders hire PR firm to promote tax

Leaders throughout Stanislaus County agreed to spend another $100,000 on a public relations firm spreading the word about a transportation tax heading for a countywide vote in November 2016.

Regional Government Services had been paid $50,000 to conduct focus groups on road and transit priorities.

On Wednesday, the Stanislaus Council of Governments voted 13-1 to raise the firm’s contract to $150,000 for presentations before elected bodies, service clubs and other groups. The firm also will develop a website allowing users to search by location projects to be funded by tax proceeds, and will create a “social media program” and appear at farmers markets, festivals and summer concerts.

Dissenting was county Supervisor Jim DeMartini, who said, “I just don’t like to see money thrown away on consultants, social media and focus groups.”

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 4:36 PM with the headline "StanCOG leaders hire PR firm to promote tax."