Home Antioch Antioch Set To Fund Police with Complimentary Tax Measures

Antioch Set To Fund Police with Complimentary Tax Measures

by ECT

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You know what they say, go big or go home and that is exactly what the Antioch City Council did last night agreeing to move forward with two complimentary ballot measures that will help increase police staffing levels and city services.

With two motions approved in 5-0 votes, staff will now develop ballot language for a ½ cent sales tax measure that will sunset in 10-years which includes an annual citizen oversight audit. The second measure will be a Landlord Rental Fee drafted by citizens.

Antioch is looking to raise $7 million in annual revenue to bring up police staffing to 126 sworn officers and non-sworn officers. A sales tax would bring in an estimated $4.7 million which is short of the funds needed which is why a Landlord Rental Fee was discussed which would bring in $2.6 million in funds each year.

The vote came after the council heard a presentation on a survey conducted by EMC who surveyed just 400 people who were likely November 2013 voters.  They claimed 67% of the public would support a sales tax while just 35% would support rental tax measure.

EMC suggested against competing ballot measures and focus on passing one at a time. Two revenue measures, if one is confusing, it could potentially mean no votes on both. Sales tax is straight forward, explained Bernstein.

“We do have concerns about both being on the ballot,” said Ruth Bernstein of EMC. “People get confused.”

Councilman Gary Agopian shared his disappointment in the polling about not asking more questions focused on the Landlord Rental Fee whereas lots of questions were asked on the sales tax.

“I am a little bit disappointed we didn’t dig a bit deeper on the business tax… yet we didn’t have a dollar amount for the business tax and why it would be valuable. I feel like I am a little bit in the dark,” said Agopian.

Agopian challenged his council to consider where they stand with the results saying 67% support it, they should go for a dedicated measure which requires 66%.

EMC responded that there was a margin of error to consider.

“A lean yes does not always solidify a yes vote for whatever reason. Say they don’t show up. We only have 59% as a for sure yes,” said Bernstein

Antioch resident Fred Hoskins expressed disappointment in the council over the process and accused them of wasting money for a survey and placing a measure on the ballot that will not pass.

Hans Ho stated that he was a conservative republican but that he was supporting both revenue measures because they complement one another and it’s a simple math problem—neither one funds the police levels needed, but together, they do.

“We need tax revenues to beef up our public safety staffing.  We must make this safeguard known to the public. It’s simple math, we need the rental fee as a companion measure,” said Ho.

Robert Munton stated the council should also include the business tax.

“These landlords should step up because they need to pay their fair share,” said Munton.

Former Mayor Donald Freitas explained that both measures were needed because it always comes down to revenue and how to pay for things.

“A half-cent sales tax will not give you all the revenue you need to address public safety,” said Freitas. “I am asking you on behalf of all residents to put all three measures on the ballot.”

Meanwhile, Bill Cook, a city crime prevention commissioner, challenged the entire survey and flat out rejected the results stating he did not believe them because he has been out meeting with the pubic and hearing something completely different.

“I am looking at your survey and I disagree with it. I go into peoples home and have meeting and I am hearing something different.  I disagree with this. What am I hearing, is residents of Antioch support our police chief, police, and code enforcement an want more of them. If the business tax is not on the ballot, they are not voting for it,” said Cook.

After public comments, the council was cautious as they discussed the two potential measures where Mayor Wade Harper took the lead by stating both measures need to be on the ballot.

“We should go with a ½ cent sales tax, that is being conservative. I think we should put a limit of 10 years on it. I think we have a community that can understand, especially if we make it clear, if we put the landlord rental fee on the ballot, make it short, make it clear, the city attorney working with the community who has prepared one for us,” said Harper. “There is an obviously loop hole where they are not paying their fair share. We need to do the landlord rental fee in a way that doesn’t cause confusion.

Harper reiterated that along with the ½ cent sales tax, they must include a landlord rental fee on the ballot.

Councilwoman Monica Wilson agreed with the Mayor stating they need to look at the big picture.

Mayor Pro Tem Mary Rocha also agreed by stating she could support two measures. She did state they need to identify where the money is going even if they can’t do so by law.

Councilman Tony Tiscareno at first did not like the idea of two ballot measures based off polling.

“I do support the idea of a landlord business tax, my concern is this poll is enough questions asked . We can’t assume, but if we put two measures on ballot based off poll, there is a good chance we pass neither according to the polling,” explained Tiscareno. “I am looking at ½ cent sales tax, it’s not enough to fund us, but it’s a start. It will pass easy. I need assurances we don’t fail on both.”

Councilman Gary Agopian stated the need for both is great and believed they had a consensus that they want two measures on the ballot.

“The need is great, there is no doubt that everyone is on the same page.  The consensus is we really want both. We really want business license tax that supplements a half cent sales tax. The devil is in the details in how the campaign is run, how it is started, who runs it, the message, and how voters turn out. The absolute worst scenario is both go down,” explained Agopian.

Agopian further explained that when it comes to the issue of the business license tax, the citizens group is already at work and proposed a measure. He urged staff to work with the citizens group on their proposal because it will be more impactful if it’s coming from citizens—he did caution, the council had to also support the measure.

Agopian also challenged the council and staff to cap a Landlord Rental Fee by stating that three of the major apartment complexes will get dinged with a heavy tax and that they were not the problem.

He shared details of how at $240 a unit if your Cross Point apartments gets expensive. He stated 240 units there business license annually is $58,000—he stated “they are not the problem”.

“Another complex is 140 units, $33,000 a year and they are not the problem.  Twin Creeks 240 units would be $57,000 and they just spent a lot of money to redesign,” explained Agopian.

He urged the council and staff to come up with a formula for a cap.

After the discussion, Councilman Tiscareno agreed to both ballot measures.

“I can support both measures presented out here. I have a few reservations due to the polling,” explained Tiscareno.

The sales tax ballot measure will cost Antioch and estimated $204,000 while the the landlord Rental Fee is estimated at $15,000.

Motions Approved:

Sales Tax –  ½ cent sales tax w/10 year sunset with citizen oversight with annual audit.  Approved 5-0

Landlord Rental Fee – engaged with citizen group that’s already drafted their measure to accommodate some sort of cap/formula on units and come up with freeze on business license in general—does not want a different measure from citizens group. Approved 5-0.

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6 comments

JimSimmons42 May 15, 2013 - 7:06 am

I will vote yes on both, but the council had their minds made up prior to any polling being done. I say this because its pretty clear in the results that two measures means failure of both. I agree with Agopian, the apartment complexes do need a cap. Nice recap Burk although I am curious to get your opinion on what transpired. Please share.

Rob Saw May 15, 2013 - 7:09 am

Bill Cook was right, this poll was wrong and too small. Way to waste $200k on a ballot that will not pass.

Marty Fernandez May 15, 2013 - 8:31 am

As members of the Friday Morning Breakfast Club my wife and I are encouraged the council has agreed to work with the group and tweak our
Landlord Business Tax Initiative for the November ballot. Mr. Agopian has some good ideas to work on. Everyone who spoke on both sides had good things to say. Thank you Mr. Burkholder for covering the meeting.

Bill Cook May 15, 2013 - 1:49 pm

What I said is that if the Rental Tax isn’t on the ballot the residents of Antioch will not vote for a Sales Tax. What I hear at Neighborhood Watch Meeting is that Antioch Residents want Landlords to pay their fair share of taxes. Rental homes are a business!!!!

burkforoakley May 15, 2013 - 2:18 pm

Bill… you hit a home run last night.

Marty Fernandez May 15, 2013 - 5:38 pm

Bill WAS great last night! We are lucky to have dedicated people like him.

Comments are closed.