Hollister needsd Measure T
The citizens of Hollister have a critical decision to make on
Nov. 6. As everyone is probably aware, our city has suffered the
loss of a number of vital services while, at the same time, facing
a financial crisis. It is a fact that the city’s general fund has
experienced a structural deficit since the 1999-2000 fiscal
year.
Hollister needsd Measure T
The citizens of Hollister have a critical decision to make on Nov. 6. As everyone is probably aware, our city has suffered the loss of a number of vital services while, at the same time, facing a financial crisis. It is a fact that the city’s general fund has experienced a structural deficit since the 1999-2000 fiscal year. Each year since 2000 city officials, in an effort to avoid tax increases, have balanced budgets by making cuts in programs and services along with drawing down the reserve. Since the 02-03 fiscal year, staffing levels have been reduced from 174 positions to 133. Additionally, the 1999-2000 General Fund reserve of $14,410,495 has dwindled to $4,139,741. Even with reductions that have been made for 07-08, the reserve is projected to be about $2,740,000 by the end of the current fiscal year.
The reductions in staffing have impacted all departments, the latest reductions affecting police and fire. These reductions have severely impacted services throughout the city and are now undermining the public health, safety and welfare of all residents. Without a new guaranteed source of revenue, the city will be unable to restore services that have been eliminated, let alone keep up with new demands once the building moratorium is lifted. Even with the cuts that have been made, the 07-08 budget will contain a structural deficit of about $1.4 million. Without a new revenue stream, we face reduced fire and police staffing, critically deferred maintenance of city infrastructure, and an inability to provide quality of life services including recreation and gang intervention as well as a host of other public services associated with municipal government.
On the brighter side, there are signs of recovery. The wastewater treatment project is ahead of schedule and the moratorium will most probably be lifted in December 2008. Business and Industry are again looking at Hollister in a positive manner. The highway 25 bypass will allow for redevelopment of downtown in addition to bringing commercial businesses to a number of locations along the bypass. The Honda Powerhouse is open. The old Premiere Cinemas building will soon have tenants. All of these will contribute to economic growth of the city – but this economic recovery will not occur for some years.
So there is a bright future – but the city now faces a crisis. City reserves can no longer be used to balance the budget. Supply and service budgets have been reduced to bare bones so further cuts cannot be made there. Fire department staffing has been reduced 9 percent, police staffing has been reduced 20 percent, and all other departments have been reduced by larger percentages up to 80 percent. Further staffing reductions would most certainly need to come from public safety.
Hollister’s sales tax rate of 7.25 percent is the lowest in the state. All our surrounding communities have higher rates. Measure T will increase the sales and use taxes by 1 cent to 8.25 percent. Measure T will generate $3.5 million to $4 million annually. Measure T has a sunset clause – it will automatically expire in five years and the tax rate will revert back to the current 7.25 percent. Measure T requires a citizen oversight committee to monitor city spending and report back to the community. Measure T will restore vital quality of life services for our residents during the transitional period before we see economic gains from the end of the moratorium and the impacts of the Highway 25 bypass.
In Hollister this past year, gang violence increased and we had a record number of home burglaries. To quote a recent article, “Hollister continues to be plagued with shootings in 2007, with 17 so far – including 15 drive-bys – resulting in three attempted murders and one homicide, according to police records. In 2006, there were six shootings in Hollister.” Measure T will allow us to put more police officers on our streets, restore after-school programs to keep our kids safe, and step up our gang prevention efforts. Measure T will allow the city to once again adequately staff our fire trucks and engines. A yes vote for Measure T will restore vital public services that our citizens deserve. A yes vote for Measure T will increase quality of life for Hollister residents.
Doug Emerson
Hollister council member
Mayor urges yes on T
I would like to give my opinion on the Measure T issue.
A unified front is always the best way to attack a problem, and as you know, Hollister is facing many of them.
In order for us to move in the right direction, we must make difficult decisions along the way. Measure T is not one of them. If you have ever shopped in Gilroy, or any other city within the Santa Clara County, you have paid for their communities to have the types of services we deeply need.
I am asking you to support your own community and join me in voting yes on Measure T.
Brad Pike Sr.
Hollister mayor
Say ‘yes’ to Measure T
Measure T is for the future. It is time for us residents of Hollister to step up and take control of our collective destiny. It is time to stop complaining about the problems in our city and take a positive action toward a brighter future. The starting point is for everyone to get out and vote YES on Measure T on Election Day. There is no “bigger bang for your penny” than voting in a 1-cent sales tax on the dollar. All of the money stays right here in the city to directly benefit those who live, work, shop, and play here. How many of us do a lot of shopping in Gilroy or other parts of Santa Clara and Monterey counties and pay a higher sales tax that benefits those other communities? What other investment will have such a direct impact on your life for so little money?
Measure T is for trust in local government. There are those of you out there who may care about our public safety and quality of life in Hollister, but do not trust local government with our money. This is based on the leadership, or lack thereof, from city councils and administrators of the past. Well, guess what? We have a new group of leaders in this city. Hollister has and is developing a smart growth plan for the future. Please don’t hold our future hostage to mistakes of the past. A vote for yes on Measure T will help ensure that our city will have the financial solvency to tackle future challenges and improve our safety and quality of life.
Don’t think for a minute that the city is wasting taxpayer money. Hollister is as lean and efficient as they come. Staffing across the board is way down compared to a standard California city of its size. Everyone knows that staff salaries take up the largest chunk of a city budget. Speaking of salaries, Hollister is not a city that has squandered money on exorbitant salaries. Salaries in Hollister have not kept up with the rising cost of living and are not competitive with surrounding communities. In the public safety sector in particular, salaries are between 30-50 percent below other communities within commuting distance. The city is currently deficit spending to balance the books and is going bankrupt folks!
Measure T is for taking back the streets! Burglaries are way up in Hollister. Violent crime is on the rise. Gang activity and drive by shootings have increased. Auto theft has increased. So where are the police? The Hollister Police Department has lost six positions since 2004. There are currently 28 sworn positions filled. The state recommends about 54 sworn positions for the current size of Hollister. That means staffing is barely over 50 percent of what it should be.
With current staffing rates, that means that at any one time there are usually only three officers and one supervisor working patrol for the entire city. Nearly all of the specialized units in the police department have been cut due to budget and staffing issues. Our neighbor Gilroy, with 10,000 more in population, has over double the police staffing as Hollister has. The Hollister Fire Department is also very understaffed. A vote for yes on Measure T will help fund the precious public safety net that all Hollister residents need and disserve.
Measure T is for a turning point. We are at a very exciting time in Hollister history. Within about a year the sewer moratorium will be lifted and the Highway 25 bypass will be completed. Along with that there is a Lowe’s scheduled to open about that time, along with other commercial, residential, and retail development and planning in the future. These are things that will help increase the tax base in the city and fund our vital services. Measure T will help take us through this next transitional 5 years. It will end with a sunset clause after that. The city needs immediate emergency funds. The city will go bankrupt waiting for alternative solutions to start bringing in revenues. Now is the time to act by voting yes on Measure T. Measure T will help bring city services up so we will be in a better position to attract and recruit smarter growth for the future.
Dave Anderson
Hollister
