At its June 6 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved placing a half-cent general sales tax measure on the November 2018 ballot. If passed by the voters, the measure would generate an estimated $18.4 million annually.
The measure includes an independent citizens’ oversight board, regular audits, and a guarantee the revenue generated will be spent locally. If enacted by the voters, the measure would stay in effect until voted out.
As a fiscally responsible city, the measure includes an independent citizens’ oversight board, regular audits, and a guarantee the revenue generated will be spent locally with funding that cannot be taken by the state.
“We need to maintain our quality of life by keeping our commitments,” said Acting City Manager Dominick Casey. “We need to ensure our roads and streets are repaired now, otherwise they simply continue to deteriorate and become more costly to fix. And we must ensure current levels of police and fire are maintained at levels the community desires and that keep our city safe, no matter what happens with the State budget or economy.”
Watch the City Council meeting.
Over the past 10 years, Roseville has taken steps to reduce the General Fund budget including reducing the city work force, reducing employee compensation and benefits, and reducing levels of community services.
To close the budget gap during the recession, Roseville deferred maintenance needs on roadways, IT infrastructure, libraries and parks that must be addressed, and borrowed from reserve funds that must be paid back.
As a general sales tax measure, the revenue generated can be used for essential services the community has said they value including neighborhood police patrols, fire protection, 9-1-1 emergency response, crime suppression, street and pothole repair, libraries, parks and recreation, job creation and economic development programs.
If approved, the sales tax increase would begin in April 2019.