Measure U passes by wide margin

Voters in Scotts Valley overwhelmingly voted Tuesday to approve Measure U, a temporary sales tax meant to preserve city services against the backdrop of a bleak budgetary crisis.
As 10 p.m. on Nov. 5, the preliminary results of the election were posted online by the Santa Cruz County Election Department,  totaled the ballots at 1,788 votes — 74.91 percent — in favor of the measure, and 599 votes — 25.09 percent — against it.
The passage of the measure will implement an 8-year, half-cent sales tax increase that is designed to close the city’s budget deficit.