During last year’s strategic planning sessions, Yucca Valley residents consistently identified three primary concerns: increased public safety; improvement of town streets; and the cost of the upcoming sewer project. Town staff reminded council members that there is no more money in the budget to go toward these concerns without increasing revenue; in other words, without passing a sales tax. In this second of a two-part report, managing editor Tami Roleff says that at Tuesday’s meeting of the Yucca Valley Town Council, council members were presented with two sales tax measures to consider…
One of the proposals presented to the Yucca Valley Town Council was for a half-cent general fund sales tax for 10 years. Proceeds from the tax would go toward more Sheriff’s patrol deputies, a detective, and increased public safety; improved maintenance of town roads; and community programs. The tax requires a simple majority vote by residents on the November ballot to pass. The other tax is a half-cent special sales tax for 30 years that would help finance the sewer project, and it would reduce residents’ assessments by an estimated 20 percent. This tax would require a two-thirds majority vote on the November ballot to pass. Both these taxes would generate about $1.5 million each per year. The council directed staff to determine if there is community interest in supporting these taxes. If there is, then the town would move forward in the process of placing these two measures on the ballot in November.
YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL ASKS FOR SALES TAX STUDY
