County puts ‘public safety’ on ballot
By: Jonathan Whitaker, Merced County Times
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s previously reported in the Times, Merced County leaders have been mulling putting a sales tax measure on the November ballot to shore up deficiencies in staffing and services within the Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s Office, and County Fire. Well, during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, they made it official, with an unanimous vote on the dais, and with enough time to meet election ballot deadlines. They are calling it the “Public Safety Stabilization Act Special Sales Tax” — a countywide 1/2 cent per dollar increase on sales tax for the next 30 years. Proponents say the measure could generate up to $25 million annually. Eighty percent of the annual revenue collected would be specifically for “county public safety expenses” — 52 percent for the Sheriff’s Department, 15 percent for the D.A.’s Office, and 33 percent for the Fire
Department. The remaining 20 percent of the annual revenue collected would be for “City and Town Program Allocations — funds to be distributed in proportion to each city’s share of the total population living in the county’s incorporated areas. No city shall receive less than $250,000 per year. Tax revenue may also be used for administrative costs. And an oversight committee would be formed to ensure guidelines are being followed and to offer recommendations on spending priorities. District Attorney Nicole Silveira called the measure “a long-term solution” if it passes. Sheriff Verne Warnke called it a “tool.” “I hate the idea of answering the phone, and we don’t have anybody to send,” the Sheriff said. “I’m hoping we can definitely move forward and allow our citizens of this county to make their voices heard about it. Supervisor Daron McDaniel offered gushing praise over the new tax plan
that will go before voters. “I think this is absolutely one of the most important tax measures that we’re going to bring since I have been on this board,” he said. Seconds later, McDaniel doubled down: “I think this is more important than anything else that we brought forward to the public.” Supervisor Josh Pedrozo was a bit more subdued when he commented: “Now is the right time to do this, I think. … I think it’s really important after going through fire station closures, and seeing the number of deputies we have patrolling, and the amount of cases the D.A.’s Office is handling, I think it’s imperative that we support this … I know nobody likes taxes, but I think it’s important.” Sheriff Warnke has said his department is operating at a 25 percent deficit with regard to the number of deputies on patrol across the
county’s far-reaching territory. Meanwhile, the county is set to close two of its Cal Fire stations, while others are facing consolidation. The public safety need appears to be there, but will county voters go for it? As a special tax, the measure would require 2/3 of the votes cast to be in favor in order for it to be passed and go into effect. According to a survey sent to county residents in May, more than 62 percent said they would support the half-cent tax to help address public safety staffing shortages. If passed in November, the public safety sales tax would go into effect April 1, 2025. Payments to departments would follow some time in June.