County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson raised the
possibility of placing a tax initiative on the November ballot as
an option to shore up San Benito County’s struggling budget during
the Board of Supervisors’ first retreat of the year Thursday.
Hollister – County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson raised the possibility of placing a tax initiative on the November ballot as an option to shore up San Benito County’s struggling budget during the Board of Supervisors’ first retreat of the year Thursday.
Though she received no direction from supervisors to specifically look into a tax initiative, Thompson said that her charge from the board is to identify possible revenue sources. In September, supervisors approved an $80.9 million budget that was balanced with about $2 million in reserve funds – the second year in a row that the county had to dip into reserves. As far as a tax increase goes, the county’s options include either increases to the property or sales tax.
“My board has asked me to give a full range of options to make a decision to balance the budget on,” she said. “(A tax increase) is an option … though it may never be pursued.”
Supervisors, who would have to vote to approve putting a tax initiative on the November ballot, don’t seem inclined to take that route to solvency.
“Under no circumstances will I support a tax increase,” Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz said.
De La Cruz said that rather than asking taxpayers to pony up more money, the county needs to explore other options to boost revenue. He suggested rezoning some agricultural land so it can be used by business and industry; investigating how the county’s one percent growth cap affects the local economy; and doing an economic analysis of each new project – such as housing developments – that comes before the board to be sure it will not be a financial drain on the county.
Though others on the Board of Supervisors do not flat-out reject the notion putting a tax initiative before voters, they said that they would not support a general tax increase that wasn’t dedicated to a specific area in the county government.
“The only way I would support a tax increase is to have a specific program, a specific need,” Supervisor Don Marcus said. “I don’t think that has been defined.”
Supervisor Reb Monaco agreed, saying he would be open to exploring a tax initiative, but wouldn’t support one unless there was a specified need and the county was desperate.
“To me, resorting to a tax increase is kind of a last-ditch effort,” he said. “I’m not going to jump on a tax increase right now.”
While San Benito supervisors haven’t yet considered a tax initiative, the city of Hollister – with a budget deficit of its own – hired a firm last month to poll Hollister voters’ willingness to pass a new tax.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com
