The Chula Vista City Council on Tuesday night supported putting a measure for a half-cent general sales tax increase on the June ballot that, if approved, is supposed to help fund public safety.
The measure is considered a general tax; revenues will go directly into the general fund, therefore it will only need a simple majority — not two-thirds — voter approval.
Councilwoman Pat Aguilar had expressed initial concern that future city councils might not use the tax revenue to fund public safety and instead use it for whatever they want. But her concerns were eased when the council agreed to have an oversight committee ensure funds go toward public safety.
If approved, Chula Vista’s sales tax would increase from 8.25 percent to 8.75 percent, making it one of the highest sales tax rates in the county, along with Del Mar and National City.
It is estimated that the proposed sales tax increase in Chula Vista will generate about $17 million per year, with that money going toward hiring about 35 firefighters and 29 sworn police officers.
Those 35 firefighters would staff four squad units in the eastern area of the city to improve response times, create a public education specialist position to conduct risk assessments for the development and delivery of fire education programs, staff the future Millennia and bayfront fire station with a fourth firefighter, staff four current fire engines with a fourth firefighter, and add one deputy fire chief.
Chula Vista Battalion Chief Darrell Roberts said he feels good leaving a public safety measure in the hands of Chula Vista voters.
“As a 20-year firefighter, I’m beyond happy with at least the ability to put our issues before the citizens and ask for their support,” said Roberts, who is also the president of the Chula Vista Firefighters union. “…With this initiative going on the ballot in June it would change the face of our organization and allow us to get to our people finally in a timely fashion.”
Roberts said Chula Vista has about 114 firefighters working in nine stations serving a population of 265,000.
Police officers also face a challenge to their staffing levels. Currently the Chula Vista Police Department has 292 sworn officers. The additional 29 police officers would include 16 patrol officers, five school resource officers, and five sworn officers for traffic and safety positions and two community service officers.
Police Chief Roxana Kennedy said the potential sales tax measure can help put more boots on the ground and respond to calls quicker.
Mayor Mary Casillas Salas acknowledges that the city is understaffed in many city departments but said that public safety is the lifeblood of a community.
“The priority for all of us is public safety,” she said. “Because that is the number one function of government for us at the municipal level for us to feel safe and that they are safe. This will be the second consecutive tax measure Chula Vistans are voting on. In 2016, voters approved Measure P, a 10-year half-cent sales tax to fund infrastructure. This measure is said to generate $176 million in revenue over 10 years.
Chula Vista resident Russ Hall said he opposes the ballot measure, saying the city has not fully looked at other options.
“New taxes is the easy way out,” he said.
Hall also said he is worried tax revenue would go towards paying the high pension costs for retired fire and police personnel as well as overtime for current police and fire staffs.
In a similar measure, National City voters first approved Prop. D in 2006 to increase its sales-tax by a penny to “maintain National City’s public safety and prevent cuts to city services such as police and fire protection.” The measure was renewed in 2016.
