More Good Reasons to Vote NO on Davis Measure Q - Part 2
Fact Checking False Ballot Statement Claims by Yes on Measure Q

Letter: Support Measure Q: Investing in Our Community’s Future

I wholeheartedly support Measure Q, which proposes a modest increase in Davis’s sales tax from 8.25% to 9.25%. This initiative will generate $11 million annually, funding critical services that ensure our community’s health, safety, and financial stability.

Why is this additional tax necessary? While costs have risen, our city’s revenue has not kept pace. For years, the City Council has sought solutions, from proposing a dedicated tax for road maintenance that failed in 2018 to two economic development plans—the Davis Innovation & Sustainability Campus (DISC) in 2020 and DISC II in 2022—both of which did not pass. After cutting discretionary spending, the City is now at a point where further reductions threaten essential services.

What will Measure Q accomplish? This measure is essential for strengthening our police and fire departments, enhancing maintenance of our parks and greenbelts, and upgrading our aging public infrastructure.  It can also contribute to the Housing Trust Fund, helping to tackle homelessness and expand affordable housing options.

I understand that sales taxes can disproportionately affect low-income individuals. However, Measure Q exempts essential purchases like groceries and medicine, mitigating that impact.

Ultimately, I believe that a small increase in sales tax is a worthwhile investment in our community’s future. By supporting Measure Q, we can preserve and enhance the services that make Davis a great place to live. Let’s take this step together to ensure our city thrives for years to come.

Barbara Clutter

Comments

Alan C Miller

One person's "modest increase from 8.25 to 9.25%" is another person's "doubling of the local sales tax with no accountability for how the funds are spent".

Dave

Yes, costs have risen but a lot of that seems to be self-inflicted. I read that there was a 6% retroactive raise given. And a 36% raise. There are other examples in the No on Q letter.
I question if this will raise "$11 million". One percent may not seem like a lot but it does make a difference. We already lose sales to Woodland (with a 8% sales tax). A council person at the farmers market told me that we are 'in line' with surrounding areas. At 9.25%, we a will be above W. Sac. (8.25), Fairfield (8.38), Vacaville (8.13), Sacramento (8.75), and Roseville, Yuba City, Folsom and Citrus Heights (7.75). I had to look as far away as San Jose (9.35) to find a higher sales tax.
The same council person said that they tried to have a dedicated tax in 2018. That's six years ago! I'm afraid that trust is a commodity which is lacking in regard to the council at the moment.

Colin Walsh

If you think DISC I or DISC II was going to solve the Cities financial issues, then you are willing to put off raising the sales tax for 10 years or more because there is no way that project was going to be completed and generating revenue for the city anytime soon. So vote no on Q now.

Colin Walsh

"I understand that sales taxes can disproportionately affect low-income individuals. However, Measure Q exempts essential purchases like groceries and medicine." and people with less money don't deserve the nicer non essential things in life so go ahead and tax them.

South of Davis

If Davis increases the sales tax the people that work out of town can send all the stuff they buy from Amazon to their office and be taxed at the lower rate while the retired people on fixed incomes (struggling with high PG&E bills) in town will have to pay the higher tax on anything shipped to them (and should be happy that the city won't be taxing the cat food they are eating)

Ron O

Come to Woodland, where the tax is lower, the houses are cheaper (with at least one notable exception), and there's plenty of unbuilt "innovation centers" that are looking for businesses (to justify the 1,600 housing units planned therein, for example).

You could fit the entire city of Davis within the unbuilt parcels inside of Woodland's city limits. Not to mention what's planned for outside of those limits.

And although there's a first-class, relatively new sports complex/community center, the bike paths throughout the city are relatively non-existent.

Elaine Roberts Musser

"What will Measure Q accomplish? This measure is essential for strengthening our police and fire departments, enhancing maintenance of our parks and greenbelts, and upgrading our aging public infrastructure. It can also contribute to the Housing Trust Fund, helping to tackle homelessness and expand affordable housing options." There is so much wrong with this statement. First, this is a general tax and can be spent on anything. In a 6/4/24 staff report, it was made clear the Measure Q tax revenue would be spent on "additional programs and services". The city's reserve is half what it should be, road maintenance has been reduced by $1.5 million, paying down the $42 million debt for unfunded employee benefits have been suspended. Yet the City Council wants to spend Measure Q tax revenue on additional programs and services, when they cannot even afford to pay for what they already have!

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