Like a garden full of spring flowers, tax measures are sprouting up all throughout the county this cycle. And who can blame the cities and county, as the inflation pressures and the unfunded mandates imposed by the state of California are stark reminders that services provided by local government are revenue-dependent, and it’s a little bleak and gloomy for many budgets out there.
And it’s not just cities that are turning to their communities for relief. School districts are facing challenges to attract and retain teachers in a housing market that is unrelenting in its cost. And facilities bonds are not just a cause du jour. Schools need renovation, and constrained annual budgets often let facilities fall into a “let’s fix that next year” limbo and students suffer.
The Scotts Valley Unified School District is going out for a bond this fall to maintain and improve their facilities. This will include:
- Construction of a multi-purpose room at each elementary school, which can serve as a cafeteria so students don’t have to eat outside in the cold winter months;
- Increasing student access to modern technology through infrastructure improvements;
- Building an all-weather track, field and spectator seating at the high school for our athletes and for safer P.E. classes;
- Modernizing/renovating outdated classrooms, locker rooms and restrooms; and
- Installing solar panels and HVAC systems.
I know, it sounds like an ambitious list of projects, but when you think of all the benefits that excellent schools bring to a community, it’s a bargain. And an even more compelling argument is that our students deserve a comfortable and stable environment in which to learn. Plus, am I going to absorb all the benefits and financial windfall of rising property values that excellent schools bring and not give back? Nah.
Scotts Valley is also bringing a measure to its citizens this fall. Our Business License Tax has not been revised since 1992 and needs to be updated. The Council listened to the business community and the public, and we are moving forward with a plan that is both equitable and simple for business to calculate and pay and simple for the city to administer.
The increased revenues that will be generated are rather modest, but will help in our goal to keep Scotts Valley as a safe and wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.
Cities and school districts provide services and rely on adequate revenue to provide those services. Not every tax is progressive and proportional and often is regressive. Not perfect, but certainly needed.
I was disappointed recently when a group of anti-tax leaders gathered enough signatures to place the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act proposition on the fall ballot. It was recently struck down by the California Supreme Court and will not be voted on this year. That is a relief.
The proposition would have required all local tax measures to pass by a two-thirds vote. That raises the bar to unacceptable heights and could decimate the financial health of small cities and lead to their decertification. Tax safeguards are already in place. Virtually every tax measure requires a vote by the people and many already need a supermajority to pass.
I don’t understand the punitive mentality that would strip away local cities’ autonomy and force them to become tacit financial vassals of the state. Fair opposition should always be welcomed, as it makes tax measures more fair and efficient, but vindictive and punishing laws have no place in our communities and should be rejected.
Randy Johnson is mayor of the City of Scotts Valley. To reach Johnson, email rl***@co*****.net or call 831-438-0633.
