My letter to the Editor on October 8, 2020 supporting the Measure U sales tax for use in Petaluma's General Fund:
Our town has fallen upon hard economic times decades in the making. But now is the time for us to stand up and fix the problem. Armchair quarterbacks can tell you who was to blame but what are you and I going to do about it today? Yes, our town has stumbled financially over the years. Mistakes were made.
All six City Council members and the Mayor recently voted “yes” to place a 1% sales tax benefitting our town on the November ballot. Each of them can tell you with detailed precision about the $15 million dollar shortage between our town’s annual General Fund and the basic City services that we all expect our City to perform.
Our town has been tightening its belt for over 20 years. Compared to other North Bay cities, our current sales tax level is one of the lowest. Unlike many other cities, our sales tax doesn’t have a dedicated Petaluma portion. It is time that we do. Most of our current sales tax goes to the state but none funds our city.
In these crazy times let’s now stand up and make our town work. It is time for a positive vision conversation.
No one likes a new tax. But all candidates up for City Council election support this. Those who have studied this topic know that we need long term fiscal sustainability.
Petaluma’s sales tax increase would be one penny on every dollar spent here in town. Some will tell you that spending another penny would make us weaker. I say that spending an extra penny will make us stronger as a town.
Regardless of who you vote into office, let’s stand up and make ourselves financially more healthy and sustainable as a town. Together. Vote “yes” for Petaluma’s Measure U.
