Antioch Moves Forward with ½ Cent Sales Tax Measure, Passes on Landlord Tax

The Antioch City Council voted 5-0 last night to move forward with a special election this November by placing a ½ cent sales tax on the ballot in order to help hire more police officers and provide additional city services.

If the measure is successful, an additional $4.7 million in revenue would allow police staffing levels to return to 126-officers along with other staffing needs such as code enforcement.

Antioch resident Mark Jordan argued that he doesn’t like taxes, but was willing to pay the sales tax to help improve the city while arguing it comes out to 14-cents per day.

“When you sit back and live in a town and watch it fall apart there comes a point we are either all in this together or all on our own. It is time we make some hard decisions ad this is a relatively small sacrifice that we have to make to continue to live in this town,” said Jordan.

Meanwhile, Ralph Hernandez did not agree with the tax.

“Don’t say this is going to solve the problem, the problem was the council making the decisions… when you over spend, you are putting we the citizens on the hook for those expenditures. Now you’re saying we need more money,” said Hernandez. “The fiscal emergency allows you to re-negotiate contracts which would lower salary and benefits.”

Fred Hoskins shared that he believed the tax would not solve the problem, but getting out into the community would through activities instead of hiring more police. He encouraged the council to find another direction.

Meanwhile, Rollie Katz argued that contrary to what people say, salary and benefits did not cause this economy crisis in Antioch, but the worse economic crisis since the Great Depression caused the problem due to the deregulation of the Financial System. He encouraged the council to put the sales tax measure on the ballot.

Norma Hernandez argued a sales tax increase will not provide the city more money because people are already tapped out.

“If you raise sales tax, the only one you’re going to hurt is the working man who can’t survive. We are low income people right now in the City of Antioch,” said Hernandez.

After public comments, the council weighed in.

Councilman Gary Agopian stated that the sales tax base has improved to pre-recession levels while the property tax has not and the council cannot sit here and do nothing.

“What is the effect of not putting this on the ballot?” asked Agopian. “If we do nothing, we will be out of money so I appreciate the arguments against the tax measure, but I really appreciate the arguments for because it gives the voters a chance to decide.”

He continued by stating tonight is a big decision.

“Is this a city you want to live in, or a city you want to move out of? There is no doubt in my mind if we make a historic decision tonight, things will improve. I support this measure because I understand this council gets what needs to be done and so do the citizens. So I ask the council members to put it on the ballot and let the voters decide which direction to go,” said Agopian.

Councilman Tony Tiscareno agreed.

“It’s a challenge when you are asking your citizens to step up and do the right thing. I’ve heard more support on the measure than opposition because of the need—an increase in public safety. It’s really important… this will be up to the voters, we can only provide an avenue,” said Tiscareno. ”It’s an important step to providing a better Antioch for all of us.”

Mayor Pro Tem Mary Rocha stated that in 2010 we said we would be here and now we are here.

“We said this was going to happen and now you understand what could happen. We had a very negative Chamber, we didn’t have supporters, our community lost as other communities created similar taxes since 2010,”explained Rocha. “Pittsburg and other communities used Antioch to pass similar ½ cent measures. Now it’s time to join them and be in the same tax base and we will all be in the same boat.”

Councilwoman Monica Wilson shared that this really comes down to the quality of life Antioch residents wish upon themselves.

“What this all really boils down is quality of life.  We all want safe community, economic development for all. I am in full support of this to put this on the community to vote. Do you want the quality of life for the city where you are safe, quality of jobs, safe to call it home?” said Wilson.

Mayor Wade Harper took offense to the claims that the employees had not done enough to help the city by stating the employees took cuts to prevent bankruptcy and had renegotiated contracts.

“I want to make it clear that employees have done their part,” explained Harper.

He then shared that the city needs more police and is tired of hearing that upon coming onto shift, officers are 30-calls down for service.

“We need more police, when I hear officers coming to work, they are already 30-calls down for service, or team of officers come in on the weekend to work to take care of the city, that tells me we need more police,” said Harper. “Being a retired police officer, you give me a team of officers, extra officers where I can have a neighborhood resource officer, a team of officers who are not responding to calls of service and proactive services , then crime will go down, but as you get out there, crime will go down. Blight will be addresses, arrest will be made, we will deal with traffic issues and collisions and major intersections, we need more police. I do support this tax measure.”

Rental Property Fee Voted Down

Immediately after the vote for the sales tax measure, the council decided to reject the idea of going forward with a landlord fee on rental property in order to protect the sales tax measure.

The rental fee would be $240 a year, or $20 a month, for each unit up to 25 units. The sliding scale proposal would set the fees between $50 to at $120 per unit depending on the number of units a landlord has. By also placing this on the ballot, both measures would have combined brought an additional $7 million in revenue to the city.

Four things contributed to this being voted down last night.

1. It switched from only including residential rental property to include apartment complexes
2.  A potential law suit from landlords
3. A $150,000+ was already lined up to fight the tax—would have likely killed both measures.
4. Contrary to popular belief, overall support was never there on this landlord tax.

From the start of the council discussion, it never had a chance as Mary Rocha shared she would not support it—essentially killing the proposal on the spot as it needed a 5-0 vote to be placed on the ballot.

“Under the current circumstances, I was never in favor of apartments; I was going after the homes. When the apartment came in, I was taken back especially since we came on the books we already have the fees. We already have it, rental inspection program with fees associated… now hearing from staff. I am against this tax,” said Rocha.

Tony Tiscareno shared that he wants to support police and code enforcement but he would not compromise the sales tax measure by placing this measure on the ballot.

“Do we put it up to the voters? Yes? But do we jeopardize revenue and serving the needs of the public?  We have a good avenue with the sales tax, if this is compromised by the business license tax, then no,” said Tiscareno.

Monica Wilson argued that the community groups offered a great opportunity and she would support the tax being placed on the ballot.

Gary Agopian stated they needed a 5-0 vote so he pleaded with the council to change its mind and reverse their “no” vote in good faith effort.

“This was initiated by citizens and came forward, in good faith revised it, at our direction reached out to apartment association… the apartment association is for the status quo. Now is the time for the voters to decide.  This is not a lot of money and is money well spent, we are not trying to plug a hole, we are trying to provide a safer community.  Improve rent, values, improves appraisals and makes people money. I am going to argue that we allow the voters an opportunity to weigh in,” said Agopian.  “My decision is to allow the vote, I personally support it.”

Mayor Wade Harper stated the council has listened to the wisdom of both sides and have received many emails and voice mails on the topic. He stated he believe the polling results and stated that the Apartment Association was unbending and not willing to make compromises—for that reason it would not pass a vote.

“The consultant I spoke with would not take the work because she believed it would not pass,” said Harper. “I somewhat trust the polling results and willing to go along with the second measure but I feel like it won’t pass and don’t want to negatively impact the sales tax. I am not afraid of uphill battles. I am prepared to put it on 2014, but not at this time. I am convinced if we put the rental tax on the ballot and it will fail and will have negative impact on sales tax measure and that is why I am not supporting it at this time. “

Measure Fails 2-3 with Harper, Rocha, Tiscareno voting no.