On Monday evening, the Merced City Council voted to place the “City of Merced Vital Services Protection Measure” on the November ballot. If approved, the measure would enact a 1-cent local sales tax until ended by voters to help maintain the City’s financial stability and preserve general services residents have identified as priorities, including fire and emergency response, public safety, street and pothole repair, safe and clean parks and public spaces, and other local services.
A recent community survey found that as many as 59% of respondents would support the measure, which requires 50% plus one voter approval to pass.
“Merced residents have been clear about the services that matter most to them, from emergency response and public safety to streets, parks and overall quality of life,” said City Manager Scott McBride. “At the same time, the cost of providing those services continues to increase, and the City is facing significant funding decisions in the coming years. This measure gives Merced voters the opportunity to decide how they want the City to address those needs.”
As part of its long-term planning, the City conducted its “Let’s Talk Merced” outreach program through the Engage Merced platform, gathering input through community meetings, mail, phone, email and online feedback. More than 2,000 residents responded, identifying priorities that included retaining qualified police officers and firefighters, maintaining fast fire response, preventing gang activity, improving 911 response times, repairing roads and potholes, and maintaining safe and clean public spaces.
One of the City’s upcoming financial challenges is the expiration of the federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, grant. The grant currently funds 24 Fire Department positions, representing approximately 27% of the department’s sworn staffing. SAFER-funded staffing also provides approximately 60% of the Merced Fire Department’s Advanced Life Support coverage, supporting firefighter-paramedic staffing at three of the City’s five fire stations.
Approximately 70 percent of Merced Fire Department calls are for emergency medical services, making firefighter-paramedic coverage an important part of the City’s emergency response system.
“The challenge goes beyond one grant, one department or one service,” McBride said. “Without additional local revenue, the City will have to make difficult decisions about how to balance emergency response and public safety with other community priorities, including streets, parks, neighborhood safety and other services residents rely on every day.”
The Vital Services Protection Measure would provide locally controlled funding for general City services and community-identified priorities, including fire and emergency response, public safety, street and pothole repair, safe parks and public spaces. Revenue generated by the measure would remain local and could not be taken by the state or federal government.
“We want to give Merced voters the opportunity to weigh in before the City has to make difficult decisions about emergency response, infrastructure and other services,” McBride added.
The measure includes accountability provisions, including citizen oversight, independent audits and public disclosure of spending.