Lisa Gonzales: Don’t leave any wiggleroom in sales tax pitch

Re “Mayor renews sales tax push to pay for police, firefighters” (Page A1, April 30): Last time they wanted to increase the sales tax to benefit Modesto police and fire departments the actual wording we were asked to vote for said that the money would go to the city’s general fund. There was no guarantee the police and fire departments would get the money. It could go anywhere. If it had been correctly written, I would have voted for it last time. It is really sad, but from Thursday article it looks like they haven’t learned anything from the last time. Yet again, the money will be used to “balance the general fund.” As a voter, I believe how the law is written – not what they say they will use it for.

This story was originally published May 4, 2015 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Lisa Gonzales: Don’t leave any wiggleroom in sales tax pitch."