Bee endorsement: Deciding factors in Modesto sales tax vote and high schools bond

Measures H and L will benefit people in and around Modesto, helping to maintain and improve quality of life for California’s 19th largest city.

They took separate tracks to the Nov. 8 ballot because they are sponsored by different agencies. But the overlap of people voting on both is huge. From voters’ perspective, it makes sense for The Modesto Bee to address them together, even though they do different things.

Measure H would increase sales tax in Modesto by 1%. It would touch more lives because so many people spend money in the city on everything from soap to furniture to cars.

Measure L is a bond benefiting high school facilities in the Modesto City Schools district. Property owners would pay more property tax according to assessed value.

Many Bee readers, though not all, fall into both categories.

It’s disappointing that voters are asked to approve both on the same ballot, at a time when families are struggling with prices of gas, groceries and more. But if the timing is bad, it’s also no one’s fault.

What’s important is the quality of city services for people working and living in Modesto, and the quality of education for our children and grandchildren. All should keep that focus when marking ballots.

Measure H

A sales tax increase would boost Modesto’s tax rate from 7.875% to 8.875%. Something costing $10 now would cost $10.10, and you would pay $101 for something that used to cost $100.

Since the Great Recession, City Hall has dropped 27% of its staff, losing the equivalent of 224 employees, including 77 police jobs and 56 firefighting positions. The City Council is plugging the current $8 million budget deficit with savings from vacant positions, delayed maintenance and one-time funds such as COVID relief. Too many restrooms in parks are locked for lack of staff to maintain them, and some that remain open are downright scary.

Measure H would address all of that.

The argument to vote no on H in protest of the state’s unfair allocation of taxes, which hurts Modesto and other cities, is specious. It’s not realistic to expect that Modesto leaders can do anything about a distribution structure over which they have zero control.

It is realistic, and much more fair, to acknowledge that Modesto leaders are doing what is in their power to improve our lot, knowing that if Measure H succeeds, they will have $39 million more each year to make our lives better. By law, every dime would stay here for our benefit, and could not be raided by the state.

Some of Modesto’s neighbors discovered this years ago and are reaping the benefits as you read this. If voters in Ceres, Oakdale and Turlock can impose higher taxes on themselves in exchange for better services — and all have — people in Modesto absolutely deserve a chance to do the same.

Modesto did try, in 2013 with Measure X and in 2015 with Measure G, failing both times.

Measure H has a chance to succeed this time because there is more trust these days in city leadership and less opposition to the measure.

Mayor Sue Zwahlen and council members David Wright, Rosa Escutia-Braaton and Chris Ricci have made great strides, in the two years since all were elected, to leave behind the acrimony and infighting that plagued their predecessors. There is every reason to believe that three new members joining them in the upcoming election — Nick Bavaro and Eric Alvarez are unopposed, and opponents Jeremiah Williams and Naramsen Goriel both appear to be team players — will not derail positive gains.

People understandably are loathe to throw their own money at dysfunction. Such is not the case with current city leadership.

Previous attempts to raise Modesto’s sales tax also faced stiff criticism from the Stanislaus Taxpayers Association. This time, no organized opposition has been presented.

Skeptics: Who are your local heroes, and what are they saying about Measure H?

Kristin Olsen, a former councilwoman and county supervisor, used to lead all Republicans in the California Assembly as well. She says you should vote for it.

Local police officers and firefighters say you should vote for it. Same for former Mayor Jim Ridenour and retired Police Chief Galen Carroll.

What about community giants like Dale Boyett, Chris Murphy and Lynn Dickerson? All say you should vote for it. Businesses across Modesto have poured tens of thousands of dollars into the Yes on H campaign, unlike the previous efforts.

All know there comes a time when the well-being of our people simply outweighs knee-jerk opposition. All see that other communities embracing slightly higher sales tax have not suffocated under its weight, but are able to do more for their people.

Modesto deserves better public safety, healthier trees, safer parks and cleaner streets. Vote yes on Measure H.

Measure L

Just as city voters are more likely to accept higher sales tax when they trust City Hall, school district voters are more apt to approve bonds when they have confidence the money will be well spent.

There is no better indication of this than Measures D and E, which voters four years ago approved for elementary and junior high facilities in Modesto City Schools.

Those bonds so far have provided $79 million for much-needed improvements. For example, Wilson, Fairview, Shackelford, Fremont and El Vista schools all have new cafeterias. Bret Harte got a whole new wing of classrooms. Numerous others got new security cameras, heating and air conditioning in gyms, playground structures and science lab renovations, and other improvements are still coming.

We trusted school leaders in 2018. They delivered.

Now it’s high schools’ turn. Their average age is 75 years. They have too many leaky roofs, wheezing AC units, outdated science labs, sports venues in need of repair, and much more. Measure L would address many of those needs.

What will it cost homeowners? About $9.67 a month for a home worth $400,000 the last time it changed ownership. Our teenagers are worth it.

Rather than looking at Measures H and L as double-whammies, voters could choose to see them as a rare chance to vastly improve services of not one but two bedrock local agencies at the same time. The measures will help us feel better about where we live, and where we learn.

Measures H and L both deserve your support.