Watsonville considers sales tax renewal in March
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION) The City of Watsonville is asking voters this year to renew a one-half-percent sales tax rate in the city to help pay for first responders and after-school youth programs.
Scott Taylor has been working at Taylor's Office City for 50 years in downtown Watsonville. Business has been good, and he does not mind paying more for improved city services.
"To support the police department, the fire department and the parks and recreation, I'm for it," said Taylor. "It's another half percent sales tax, we already have the highest sales tax in the area anyway."
Measure Y in Watsonville is seeking to renew the sales tax to raise $4 million annually.
The city says it will do a few things with the money: maintain and increase after-school youth programs and safe places, neighborhood patrols, police officers, firefighters and paramedics. It will also go toward purchasing lifesaving public safety equipment.
"$4 million may seem like a small chunk, but for a small city like Watsonville, it goes a long way," said Watsonville City Councilman Francisco Estrada.
Voters passed the first sales tax back in 2014 with Measure G when the city did not have enough money to pay for things after the recession. Estrada says they have been able to replace aging fire trucks, purchase police body cameras and hire 14 new officers.
Estrada says for every $100 someone spends in the city about 50 cents will go toward Measure Y. But some residents say they already pay enough taxes.
"It just keeps on rising, we're getting taxed for everything around here for everything we do, even two grocery bags," said Jason Reyes, a Watsonville resident.
Eight percent of Measure Y funds will go toward parks and recreation and youth programs. Estrada says it is part of the prevention side of public safety.
"I think it pays off in the long term, so this time around that's what I think is the beauty of Measure Y," said Estrada.
"I think it's pretty high, I wouldn't vote for it. I mean, we could use the money in other areas, other places," said Reyes.
