County board opts against consultant to inform public on sales tax

San Benito County supervisors in their talks about a sales tax proposal on a 2016 ballot decided Tuesday against hiring a professional for polling and indicated they prefer a 1 percent option just for unincorporated voters.
Supervisors talked about the sales tax option in light of multimillion-dollar annual deficits with a general fund budget of just under $40 million.
They decided to pursue a public education campaign organized in house, including three workshop dates in the coming months, instead of hiring a professional consultant.
Supervisors have indicated an interest in pursuing a 1 percent sales tax question on next year’s ballot in an attempt to get on an even playing field with the City of Hollister, which already has a 1 percent special tax in place through the spring of 2018.
Look back for more.