Logo courtesy of Sutter County

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – Sutter County voters will decide in November whether to approve a 1% countywide sales tax to help maintain public safety, repair roads, protect water infrastructure and support other local government services.

The Sutter County Board of Supervisors voted July 28 to place the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot and directed County Administrator Steven Smith to negotiate revenue-sharing agreements with Yuba City and Live Oak if voters approve the tax.

If approved by a simple majority, the measure would establish a countywide retail transactions and use tax of 1 cent per dollar on taxable purchases. Officials estimate it would generate about $22.5 million annually, and the ordinance would remain in effect until repealed by voters.

County officials said the proposal returns to voters after a similar measure failed in 2022, arguing rising costs, state mandates and years of budget reductions have left the county with few options.

"We're to a point where we now are impacting public safety," County Administrator Steven Smith said.

Smith said 91.3% of additional General Fund revenue since 2011 has gone toward law enforcement, fire protection and emergency response as the county absorbed higher costs tied to the state's criminal justice realignment and other unfunded mandates. He also said Sutter County's 7.25% sales tax remains at the state's base rate while neighboring communities have adopted higher local rates, meaning many county residents already pay higher taxes when shopping elsewhere but the revenue stays in those communities.

Sheriff Brandon Barnes said the budget pressures have already reduced services.

"The current trends are not sustainable," Barnes said. "We are at a tipping point."

Barnes said the Sheriff's Office has left 23 positions vacant across patrol, corrections, dispatch and support services while eliminating its homeless liaison position, reducing boating patrols and ending dedicated traffic enforcement in Live Oak. He said fewer deputies and dispatchers are available to respond to emergencies as proactive policing programs continue to shrink.

The proposal includes annual independent financial audits, quarterly meetings of a five-member citizen advisory committee and public disclosure of spending if voters approve the tax.

Supporters urged supervisors to place the measure before voters, arguing additional local revenue is needed to preserve law enforcement, fire protection, libraries and other essential services.

Opponents focused primarily on the structure of the proposal rather than the need for additional funding.

Resident Debra Desrosiers urged supervisors to pursue a special tax instead of a general tax, arguing a special tax would legally restrict spending to specific purposes such as roads or emergency services.

"The money goes into the general fund and can be spent on anything," Desrosiers said.

Supervisor Jeff Stephens said the proposal ultimately asks residents what kind of community they want in the future. He said continued investment in roads, bridges, emergency services and other infrastructure is necessary to maintain county services and support future growth.

"We can choose to let things wear down, wait too long and hope for the best. Or we can choose to invest in our future before problems become bigger and more expensive," Stephens said.

Supervisor Jeff Boone said the additional sales tax would not be paid solely by Sutter County residents. Visitors and others who make taxable purchases in the county also would contribute to the revenue generated by the measure.

For that reason, Boone said he supported placing the proposal on the ballot because the decision belongs to county voters.

"This is a vote of the people, not a vote of the few," Boone said.