San Benito County supervisors will decide Tuesday if they want to pursue a community services district that could offer an enhanced level of service for parks, recreation, and libraries.
An advisory committee has been meeting since August weighing considerations for a prospective community services district – including areas that might be served, services provided and how much residents are willing to pay.
With the help of a consultant that conducted polling of local residents, the committee gathered input on the existing level of those services in the county, along with the cities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista.
According to a staff report that will be presented to supervisors at Tuesday’s 9 a.m. meeting at the County Administrative Building, the committee decided to pursue a district that would support enhanced services.
The committee recommended the addition of 8.55 full-time employees as well as capital projects that could be phased in. Its members estimated the district would need to generate more than $3 million annually.
The consultants polled local residents on two potential revenue measures, creation of a parcel tax or county sales tax. The parcel tax was proposed to include only properties with structures.
The cost of the survey and data analysis was funded through a grant from the Health Trust received this fall that totaled $61,500.
Residents were polled on a parcel tax of $225 per parcel, along with a sales tax of either 0.75 percent or 0.25 percent, with 400 registered voters polled. The survey found 49 percent of residents supported a three-quarter-cent sales tax measure. The percentage increased to 55 percent after hearing positive messages about the proposed community services district.
When surveyed, 58 percent of those polled said it is important to restore library hours – while 57 percent said expansion, maintenance and improvement of parks and recreation facilities was important. It stated that 58 percent said the expansion, maintenance and improvement of library facilities are priorities.
Despite the support of the services, the residents who support a tax measure fell below the two-thirds that would be necessary to pass. Those polled largely disliked the parcel tax proposed at $225, with 66 percent of those surveyed saying they did not support it. A majority of survey respondents said they would be willing to pay $50 for a parcel tax, but that amount falls well below what it would cost to enhance the operating budget of a community services district.
Supervisors will decide in which direction they want to proceed after the presentation. Recommendations from staff officials include:
– Continue outreach and education efforts to establish the support needed for the district.
– Consider the development of a district, which results in a lower tax amount to voters.
– Explore options to provide for sustainability of parks, recreation and library services.
– Conduct another public opinion survey in one year to ascertain community level of support after ongoing outreach and education.
– Consider postponing a district until the economy, unemployment and tax sensitivity diminish.
Other agenda items:
– The supervisors are also expected to receive a report and presentation on the conceptual design of the proposed River Parkway of the segment between Fourth and San Benito Street and the regional park.
– They will receive a report on vacation balances of employees and they will consider approving a resolution adopting the December 2012 update to the San Benito County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan, among other items.
To view the full agenda for the board meeting, including the report on the community services district survey, go to www.cosb.us.
