“Official Newspaper of Galt”
www.galtheraldonline.com
122nd Year • No. 32
Ochoa summer soccer clinics
Western Service Workers Assn. fetes 49th anniversary in Sac region
See story on Page A9
See story on Page A4
50¢
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
The Galt Herald Your Local Paper Since 1901
Herald Day filled with fun, Council puts local firefighter remembered sales tax before voters, wants funds for P&R
By Matthew Malone News Editor
In a celebrat ion of community, Herald Day brought in locals with a car show, an auction, games, unique crafts and the traditional parade. The Aug. 6 event also honored late Herald firefighter Joe Grubba. “The community is what makes it special,” said Robin DeFehr, president of Herald Community Club, which mounts the annual event. The festivities kicked off with the parade, which traveled along Herald and Ivie roads. Area organizations and residents waved See HERLAD DAY on Page 4
By Matthew Malone News Editor
Photos by Matthew Malone
Above:The Porch Club entry in the Herald Day parade boasts of ‘world problems solved daily.’ Right: Family members of Joe Grubba sit on the park bench dedicated to his memory: from left, daughter, Joanne Bear; wife, Irene Grubba; sister, Sandra Payne; and grandson, Dustin Bear.
Comparing Galt’s current sales tax with the local sales tax cap and with the city’s possible tax rate if both the county and city measures pass and get implemented. If just the city tax passed, Galt’s tax rate would be 9.25%; if only the county tax passed, the rate would be 8.75%.
Sales tax cap might pit Galt against county By Matthew Malone News Editor
Postage pre-paid
Looking over their general-election ballots this year, Galt residents will
possibly see two sales tax measures. One is a 1-cent citywide tax that Galt City Council wants to fund parks and recreation; the other is a half-cent county
tax that would go toward transportation projects. However, if both measures pass, the effect won’t be as simple as adding 1.5 percentage points to Galt’s
sales tax. A legal cap on local sales taxes means state officials would decide whether to implement one, See SALES TAX on Page 3
In a special meeting on Aug. 4, Galt City Council decided unanimously to put a 1-cent sales tax increase before voters. T h e m e m b e r s vo i c e d their reluctance to propose new taxes, but most felt it would be necessary to adequately fund the city’s parks and recreation, and landscaping maintenance. Over the course of the two-and-a-half-hour discussion, the contours of the proposed tax emerged: It would be a generalpurpose 1% sales tax, projected to raise $3.6 million annually. Galt’s current sales tax is 8.25%, and it would rise to 9.25% if the measure were approved. Among cities in Sacramento County, Galt currently has a midrange sales tax. Several cities, like Elk Grove, have the county base rate of 7.75%, and three, including Sacramento, have a rate of 8.75%. The d iscussion initially concerned whether to choose a general or a special sales tax. A general sales tax needs only a simple majority among voters to pass, and the city council controls how the revenue is spent. A special tax needs a two-thirds vote, and the revenue must be spent for the purpose or purposes specified in the text. A poll commissioned by the city showed simple majorities of likely Galt voters in support of either kind of tax, but the special tax was not getting the two-thirds it would need. As a result, Council made plans to consider a general tax while also adopting an expenditure policy. The resolution would declare
Council ’s priorities for spend ing the revenue, but it avoids creating a special tax because it can be amended or overturned by a Council vote. The dra f t spend ing plan that staff presented at the August meeting included three categories of spending: parks and recreation, landscaping and “other quality of life issues.” The quality-of-life section listed the following areas: “911 emergency response and support for public safety, prevention of trash/blight/il lega l du mpi ng on publ iclymaintained property, and road repair, rehabilitation, and maintenance, as deemed necessary by the City Council.” Council Member Jay Va ndenburg a nd Vice Mayor Paul Sandhu said they favored a specia l tax. Sandhu said that the spending policy might persuade him to support a general measure. Vandenburg said the wording of the spending plan was too vague. “The way the resolution is written, it’s just for anything. There’s too many landmines in here,” Vandenburg said, pointing to the mentions of maintenance and road repair. He also pointed to the spending plan’s title, which calls the tax an “essential services measure.” Vandenburg also proposed adding a sunset provision to the measure, but this suggestion did not gain traction. Sp e a k i ng i n publ ic comment, Jerry Sauter said he lives in one of Galt’s lighting and landscaping districts, which receive subsidies from the Genera l Fund because See COUNCIL on Page 3
Food and fun at National Night Out By Matthew Malone News Editor
Galt residents had a chance to have fun and meet their city’s first responders at the annual National
Night Out celebration. The festivities took place on Aug. 2 at three locations around Galt: Meadowview Park, the Ga lt Sports
Photos by Matthew Malone
See NIGHT OUT on Page 6
Galt Lt. Brian Azevedo slaps officer Lauren Kroger with a tortilla as they play the ‘tortilla challenge’ during National Night Out.
SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM. CALL 209-745-1551 AND SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Get Connected
The Galt Herald ONLINE
@
galtheraldonline.com Join us on Facebook facebook.com/TheGaltHerald