Manteca voters may be asked to raise the city’s sales tax rate to 9.25 percent to improve police and fire services and street repairs, City Manager Toni Lundgren said.
Adding 1 percentage point to the current rate of 8.25 percent would reduce dependence on city reserves that are now being tapped for operating costs, she said.
“This modest increase would play a vital role in addressing the city’s ongoing challenges, particularly those impacted by rising inflation and subsequently higher interest rates,” Lundgren said in a news release.
Boosting the tax would add $21 million a year to enhance police patrols and crime prevention, improve fire protection, maintain emergency response times and fund street and road repairs, including pothole work, she said.
Manteca’s infrastructure is in decline because of deferred maintenance, Lundgren said. There’s not been enough money to replace equipment ranging from lawnmowers to fire trucks.
The city currently collects 1.5 percent of the 8.25 percent sales tax rate. The remainder goes to the state and San Joaquin County, according to Finance Director Shay Narayan.
“If Manteca voters do not authorize an increase in the local sales tax, the city will be forced to make significant cutbacks,” Narayan said in the news release. “Some services may have to be eliminated, altogether. This will result in more potholes, fewer police officers and firefighters, and the reduction of other services.”
City officials hope to put the tax increase on the November ballot. Passage would require approval by a simple majority of voters.