The “gist of this report” said City Manager Jaime Fontes, is whether or not the council wants to give input on the proposed half-cent sales tax that would be collected countywide.
Fontes noted that the city managers’ association has discussed the proposal and “one thing they were unanimous about,” is that at least 50 percent of tax revenues are allocated to the county’s 10 cities.
“It’s a pretty big milestone for our community and the county,” said Mayor Martin Hernandez who said he wanted Councilwoman Ginger Gherardi, the city’s representative to the VCTC board, to “bring us up to date…”
Gherardi said VCTC approves the expenditure plan for the ballot measure and then it must go to the stakeholders: “Half of the cities would have to approve it,” as well as the county Board of Supervisors before a measure could be decided by voters.
Kettle was questioned by councilmembers about specifics of the measure including monetary splits.
“When we start cobbling it together,” adding different funding components Kettle said cities would actually receive about 60 percent of tax revenues for local needs.
There was a tense exchange between Hernandez and Gherardi regarding what would be best for the city in getting its fair share of revenues: “I feel very capable,” of making that determination said the councilwoman.
Councilman Jim Tovias said although he has confidence in Gherardi he has little confidence in the system.
“Remember Measure S?” he asked of the 2002, $356 million community college needs initiative that was supposed to allot $25 million for a local college campus.
On a per capita basis, Santa Paulans and Oxnard residents supported the measure more than any other city, but Santa Paula ultimately got no funding whatsoever from the community college measure.
“We didn’t get anything and there was no legal recourse,” for the city said Tovias.
Gherardi noted that the ordinance being considered by VCTC mandates that the “money stays locally…”
“This is not a bond measure but a special tax,” said Councilman John Procter.
“It’s a concept,” Tovias replied.
“It’s a concept about a special tax,” countered Procter who asked Tovias, “Did you not want me to speak? A special tax has to be very specific,” about end use.
Procter noted he has “Been in the trenches on this quite a long time, even going back to Councilwoman Gherardi,” being director of VCTC, a job she held 17 years.
The sales tax would also bring “leveraged money,” that Procter said would be used for grant matching.
Gherardi agreed: “We’re giving away our money to other counties,” such as Santa Barbara which have a sales tax that provides funding for matching transportation grants.
During public comment Martha Brown said the only tax the council should be addressing is public safety.
“It should be our number one priority, number one…I’m not sure what it takes for that to become an issue,” said Brown.
“I just think our priorities should be public safety and the best deal for Santa Paula for our police and fire…”
