As part of the session that begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, in the council chambers at City Hall, council members will be updated about options for raising more revenue. Those possibilities include a tax on landowners and an increase to the local sales tax.
The update is part of an effort that could see tax-raising measures put onto the November ballot for voter approval.
The city of Tracy faces a deficit originally projected to be about $8 million this year, and though the city has implemented a raft of cost-cutting measures over the past two years, it hasn’t been enough to close the budget gap.
The council will also revisit a controversial decision to charge $300 to Tracy residents who receive “advanced life-support” from Tracy firefighters. The EMS fee was designed to raise $455,000. The council could decide to rescind the fee, or begin the process necessary to begin charging the fee. Also at Tuesday’s meeting:
• The council will be asked to approve the conceptual design of a “wayfinding system” — signs identifying local buildings, roads and points of interest — as part of Tracy’s continued self-marketing effort.
• Change zoning rules to make more site available for a possible community garden.
• Change the rental fee system for the Pinkie Phillips Aquatic Center at West High School.
• Approve $40,000 in Community Development Agency spending — which is not money from the general fund — to improve the entrance to Tracy Municipal Airport.
• Increase the cost of leasing ground space at the airport.
Don’t forget to “buckle up.” The City police may have another roadblock at our expense. Too bad they couldn’t have taken all of those cops that worked the seatbelt checkpoint and put them on patrol where they would have done some good. How about the gang problem in this town? They are doing nothing about it.
Good luck trying to get any type of tax passed in this economy. Sales tax or property tax; the general opinion is the city needs to make more cuts before they ask for more money from the taxpayers because we don't have it either.
But when my house gets broken into while I’m at work, by a gang banger who isn’t at work, do you think they are quick to respond? No. They down play it. My family is not safe in this town anymore. I have lived in this town for over 30 years. Maybe they should discuss that.
That said, of the options mentioned for raising revenue I would be least offended by the sales tax. Since I can't afford to buy much of anything it will not affect me. Plus on the few occasions when I absolutely have to buy something I can always pick it up when I happen to be in another city with a lower sales tax.