Decreasing revenue leads to cutbacks in city services. Years pass and city residents are pleading for restoration of funding for public safety. City leaders ask residents to put their money where their mouth is and vote for an increase in general sales tax. Residents accept or reject the proposal at the ballot box. You know how the story goes.
In recent months, this scenario has played out in cities across the Golden State and San Jose was not an exception.
However, San Jose couldn’t quite close the deal on Tuesday as a bitterly-divided City Council couldn’t work out the logistics to keep the measure from falling apart.
Specifically, Mayor Chuck Reed and several other fiscally-minded councilmembers wanted to earmark the $34 million in new revenues for bolstering public safety. The San Jose police force had previously employed 1,400 officers and related staff. The number has since dropped to 1,000.
“It is the No. 1 concern of our residents,” stated Councilmember Pete Constant.
Still other councilmembers insisted the money go toward the general fund where it could be used to bolster a wider range of city services.
The council will not have another opportunity to put a general sales tax measure on the ballot until November 2016.
Read the full story at the San Jose Mercury News.