A new mayor of San Juan Bautista was appointed at the City
Council meeting to the sound of applause from a packed house at
City Hall on Tuesday night.
Mayor George Rowe Jr., spent his first night at the head of the
council, with newly appointed Vice Mayor Arturo Medina seated
beside him.
A new mayor of San Juan Bautista was appointed at the City Council meeting to the sound of applause from a packed house at City Hall on Tuesday night.
Mayor George Rowe Jr., spent his first night at the head of the council, with newly appointed Vice Mayor Arturo Medina seated beside him.
“George, you have some really big shoes to fill,” said resident Jeff Bagley, speaking of former mayor Priscilla Hill during the public comment period.
The council approved two tax resolutions to be put on the March 2, 2004 ballot.
An enactment to increase sales tax within the city was passed with a 4 out of 5 vote by the council, with Hill the only council member casting a dissenting vote.
The council voted to increase the tax 0.75 percent. If passed, it will raise it from 7.25 percent to an even 8 percent sales tax within the city.
For the tax to be sanctioned, two-thirds of the voters must approve it in March, said city attorney Patrick Whitnell.
Revenue the sales tax brings in will go toward funding police and fire services, along with capital infrastructure projects, Whitnell said.
“If the sales tax was raised by a half percent it would raise between $60,000 to $70,000,” said City Manager Larry Cain. “It does not do fire, it does not do police, but it’s a start.”
The public expressed mixed feelings about increasing the city’s sales tax.
“On behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, I want to show our support of the tax to be put on the ballot,” said Jennifer Shultz, executive director of the chamber. “It’s an excellent idea.”
Much of the money spent in the town comes from tourist dollars, so by increasing the tax the tourists would be helping to fund the city’s public service departments, Cain said.
“I’m very conservative, I hate taxes,” said resident Scott Freels. “But I agree with the sales tax. Let’s just put it to the people – if the people say yes, then let’s go with it.”
Resident George Dias Jr. opposed the tax because he doesn’t feel the city is being responsible with its money.
“I don’t see the money being spent wisely,” Dias said. “We’re losing a lot of money every month and now you’re going to tax us again.”
The council unanimously approved to put a second resolution on the March ballot that would increase the transient occupancy tax from 10 percent to 12 percent.
The increase would only affect people who stay in hotels in the city for less than 30 days, Whitnell said.
“A two percent increase would bring in $25,000 to $35,000 a year for the city,” Cain said.
The revenues from the increase would be dedicated to funding public restrooms and parking improvements in the downtown area.
“The 12 percent is no problem,” said resident Rebecca McGovern. “But how those funds are going to be used is a problem. Funding a restroom, well fine, but where are you going to build it? And maintenance costs can be $30,000 to $40,000 a year just to maintain it.”
The city has three perspective locations for restrooms downtown, Cain said. One on state park property, another on Third Street on the block where the San Juan Bakery is, and another location a block down from the bakery, he said.
The council expressed concern for maintaining a public restroom, as well as maintaining the atmosphere of the historical downtown’s ambiance by bringing in more parking facilities.
“The sales tax has increased because there’s more restaurants, they’re more successful and they’re bringing more people to town,” Cain said. “At this point, you can’t do anything unless you can fund it.”
