Santa Maria Schedules Town Hall Meetings for Proposed Sale Tax Increase

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The City of Santa Maria has scheduled a series of town hall meetings to help inform the public about a proposed sales tax increase that will appear on the upcoming November General Election.

Measure C is a half-cent local sales tax initiative that will help fund a variety of services.

If Measure C is approved by Santa Maria voters, the local sales tax rate would increase from 8.75% to 9.25%.

According to the City, the additional sales tax revenue will help repair and maintain roads, streets, and sidewalks, including pothole repairs, maintain and improve parks and community facilities, maintain public access and operating hours at the library and community facilities, including the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center, and fund recreational and educational programs for youth, adults, and seniors.

"We are faced with a budget deficit, a structural deficit,” Santa Maria City Manager David Rowlands said in an earlier interview with News Channel 3-12. "The City Council made a phenomenal job reducing our structural deficit from $25 million down to $13 million so far. So we're doing our part right now. So right now we're really hoping to work together with our residents to get this sales tax approved."

To help voters better understand the measure, a series of four town hall meetings are now set over the next month.

During the one-hour gatherings, residents will have an opportunity to hear from City representatives and also participate in a question-and-answer session.

All meetings will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the following community locations:

• Monday, Sept. 14 — Grogan Community Center
• Monday, Sept. 21 — Edwards Community Center
• Monday, Sept. 28 — Minami Community Center
• Monday, Oct. 5 — Shepard Hall, Santa Maria Public Library

Spanish interpretation services will be available during these meetings.

For more information about Measure C, click here to visit the City of Santa Maria website.

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