The 20-year, 1 percent sales tax extension floated in the City of Hollister was headed for a landslide victory Tuesday.
With most results reported, they show the measure well ahead with 78.1 percent of the vote, or 5,071 votes. The “no” vote made up 21.9 percent, or 1,424 votes.
The sales tax measure needs a majority vote to pass, or 50 percent plus 1 vote. With an approval, it will maintain the city’s current sales tax rate of 8.5 percent for another two decades. The sales tax in Gilroy and Morgan Hill is 8.75 percent, while it is 8.625 percent in Monterey, 9 percent in Watsonville and 9.125 percent in Salinas.
The Hollister Downtown Association put its support behind the initiative before the election, while Executive Director Brenda Weatherly on Wednesday noted how the group’s board came out in favor of it because it makes sense “to charge a sales tax that’s comparable to our surrounding areas.”
“I think it’s important that we invest in our community in the same manner,” Weatherly said.
Within leadership ranks and City Hall, the measure had overwhelming support.
“I think that this is a good way for our community to get the improvements that it wants and that it deserves,” said city employee Cheryl Mullen, who’s part of the Campaign for Hollister in Support of Measure W. “And the community will define what that is.”
Measure W offers a 20-year extension of the City of Hollister’s current 1 percent sales tax. It’s an extension of Measure E, which was enacted in 2012. The new extension is expected to contribute $4.5 million annually to the city’s general fund. Approximately 67 percent of Hollister’s general fund budget goes to public safety, according to city documents.
City figures show the special sales tax brought in around $4.6 million in 2015.
Resident Teresa Savage said Tuesday at a local polling place that she voted yes on the sales tax extension.
“I completely agree with where the money needs to go,” Savage said.
Resident Daniel Phillips out at the polls, meanwhile, said he voted no on Measure W because he’s not sure if the taxes would be used efficiently.
Officially, the “Hollister No Tax Increase Public Safety/Essential City Services Continuation Measure” also had public support from the Hollister Firefighters Association, the Hollister Police Officers Association, the San Benito County Police Activities League and the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce. There was no official opposition to the measure.
Measure W is required to face independent citizens’ oversight and annual independent audits in order to prevent mismanagement of funds. All funds generated from it can only be used for the City of Hollister’s benefit, and no funds can be taken by Sacramento.
