YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Did you know out of the 180-plus cities in California with a population over 50,000, Yuba City is one of only eight still at the minimum 7.25% sales tax base rate?

Did you also know out of that 7.25% sales tax, Yuba City only receives 1%? The remainder goes to the State’s general fund (6%) and the County public safety, realignment and transportation funds (.25%).

To make ends meet over the past five years - through the impacts of COVID, and as the cost of everything continues to rise faster than revenue – the Yuba City Council has continued to tighten the budget, reduce staff, pull moneys from future replacement funds, and defer much needed maintenance on our roads.

 The budget hopes to include repairs for Yuba City’s roads. Photo courtesy of Yuba City

Unfortunately, though, the proverbial rubber has now met that road.

Early last year, the Yuba City Council created a Revenue Ad Hoc Committee, comprised of myself and Councilmember Marc Boomgaarden, to explore a potential revenue measure for this November, and define priorities. A Citizen Committee, comprised of 17 Yuba City community stakeholders, was also brought together through a number of meetings to provide their input.

After 100-plus hours of in-depth budget reviews, meetings with key Yuba City Public Safety leaders, Sutter County leaders, small business owners and many more - we have identified project funding priorities should a potential revenue measure pass, including:

Roads - tackling the $150 million in deferred maintenance on our local roads.

Fire - maintaining existing fire department staffing levels after short-term grants expire and replacing Fire Station 1 to accommodate two engine companies.

Homelessness - increasing homelessness response efforts by police and creating a city-wide “Clean Team” to quickly and efficiently address impacts of unlawful trespass and litter; remove debris and graffiti; and support small businesses.

Police - transitioning law enforcement services in the Walton/Happy Park area from the Sutter County Sheriff’s Department to the Yuba City Police Department

Support County services that directly affect Yuba City resident’s safety, such as:

Sheriff’s Department – Dedicated Homeless Liaison Officer, jail staffing and infrastructure, and an additional Court Bailiff

District Attorney’s Office – additional prosecutors, competitive pay

Public Defender

Roads – repair of county roads that directly affect Yuba City residents.

At a joint Yuba City and Sutter County public meeting in December, our Revenue Ad Hoc Committee presented a recommendation to pursue a 1% Yuba City-wide revenue measure in the upcoming November election, with a portion of the proceeds going to Sutter County for those items as outlined above.

Why would an additional 1% make such a vast difference? The additional 1% would yield approximately $17.5 million per year. No part of those funds can be taken by the State – all funds would stay under local control, for local needs.

Additionally, if a revenue measure were to move forward, accountability requirements can be included, such as an independent citizens’ oversight committee, financial audits and yearly reports to the community to ensure that all funds are spent as promised. It is important to note that essential purchases such as groceries and prescription medicine are exempt from sales tax.

Over the coming months, myself, my fellow Councilmembers, City and County leaders, and community leaders, will be holding community education events to discuss a potential revenue measure and answer your questions. If you are part of a neighborhood group, church or service club that would like to schedule such a meeting, please email me at [email protected].

 Mayor Shon Harris. Courtesy photo

To learn more about Yuba City’s potential revenue measure, and to review key priority areas of roads and public safety in depth, visit www.yubacity.net/revmeasure. The website includes a community feedback form should you have any comments or questions, and an email address you may use to contact our City Manager should you want to be considered for the Citizen Oversight Committee should the revenue measure pass.

As a 22-year law enforcement veteran myself, Yuba City’s public safety has always been my top priority. No one likes taxes. No one likes the thought of a tax increase. But we have reached the point of having to make a difficult choice and decide for ourselves what of type of community we want; what level of quality we want to see in our roads; what priority do we place on quality and efficient police and fire services; and if we want to hold criminals accountable for victimizing our citizens. If this revenue measure moves forward, you will get the same one vote as I do in November, and together we will decide Yuba City’s future.