Chris Craiker
On weekends we love to walk the Browns Valley walkways through parks and along winding streets. We enjoy looking at the landscapes...... but we’re always mindful of the cracked and decaying sidewalks as well as the potholes in the streets. I know the city has been trying to fix them and where possible, pass the costs back to the homeowners, but clearly that's not making our city safer.
I try not to get involved in political issues unless they effect construction, housing or in this case, sidewalks and streets, but we have to consider yet another tax on the November 5th ballot by Napa city to raise their sales taxes 1%, from 7.75% to 8.75%.
Measure G was placed on the ballot in June by Napa City Council and is intended to raise funds for significant city improvements that just aren't covered by present revenues. My first question is, why and for what? Then I ask who it will affect and who will pay the most?
Sales tax is what you pay at a restaurant, department store or when buying a car. As you may know, these consumer taxes are recessive, they affect lower income citizens more. Adding one percent to a custom car or boat won’t affect that buyer but will affect a young family buying a pizza or hot meal. I’m not a fan of recessive taxes that tend to burden lower income citizens, however there are provisions for exempting some products from any tax at all. Fortunately, grocery foods are exempt. Have we thought about adding 2% to Purchases over, say $50,000 products? I asked Julie Lucido, Napa City Public Works Director. She noted, the local sales tax is applied according to the State Tax and Fee Administration where strict policies on how a local sales tax can work. Unfortunately, a variable tax amount is not legal.
Napa city has one of the lowest North Bay city sales taxes. At 7.75% it’s lower than most other jurisdictions in the North Bay Counties according to the California City and County Sales and Use Tax Rate site. Much of the sales tax revenue generated by Measure G is expected to be paid by tourists who visit Napa’s wineries, B&Bs, restaurants and attractions. While encouraging tourists to visit Napa has increased significantly over the last two years, the revenues of Napa’s 2023-24 budget has slowed down considerably. Hotel rooms and sales tax are down and public improvement costs are up. It's anticipated that measure G will provide additional funding to maintain, if not enhance, current city service requires. The intent is to not reduce city services but help fix existing needs.
I'm not a fan of taxes, especially State and regional. I'm always supportive of locally controlled and directed services which can get lost in municipal budgets for road maintenance and community services. If Measure G passes in November it must be subject to accountability and serious transparency. A citizen oversight committee would be required if the measure passes but it needs to have multi-neighborhood oversight.
Before anybody decides one way or another on this, as well as any other ballot issues, please read the resolution R2024-068 calling for the election and detailing what will be included. I'll try and nutshell it:
It’s intended to protect & maintain Napa city services including repairing potholes & streets: maintaining parks & recreation, senior & youth programs, protecting water quality & supporting police with more mental health responses. It goes on and on about upgrading fire stations with lifesaving gear. It mentions homeless encampment clearing (but hopefully humanly) while enhancing fire protection. It's a one cent (1%) sales tax, going from 7.75% to 8.75%, hopefully raising up to $22 million annually. Included will be an independent audit/citizen oversight committee, which in my opinion should be created beforehand. That could secure public confidence in the intent and management of G. ”.
One issue I have with every municipality is when a tax goes on, the staffing goes up. Napa city already has too much staff as it is. As they say, “Municipalities can always find an applicant to hire for a job they don’t need!”.
Right now, the door is open for arguments for and against Measure G. The previous deadline has been extended to August 23,2024, 5:00PM. Please read and respond. So far, I’ll inclined to support it, as long as they fix those d****sidewalks!
Chris d Craiker ALA/NCARB walks the city streets and alleys gingerly watching for trip hazards.
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