Stockton Tax Increase Would Primarily Fund More City Cops
STOCKTON (CBS13) - The city of Stockton wants to add extra police to combat crime, but it would force residents to pay a higher sales tax.
The 0.75 percent tax increase is designed to pour money into something called "The Marshall Plan."
Under the proposed plan, two thirds of the tax revenue would be used for public safety, while the other third would be given to other city services.
Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva initially opposed the plan, but has since changed his mind.
"If the right safety protection measures are in place to make sure the funding is not going to be abused then it's the right thing for Stockton," he said.
Silva says a separate group should watch the funds to make sure the money is going where it is intended.
Stockton is one of the 10 most dangerous cities in America. A new FBI report ranks Stockton at number six, because of the high number of murders and robberies last year. Oakland is ranked third.
Overall, the number of violent crimes in Stockton only increased slightly in 2012.
