Yolo County Supervisors Vote Down Proposed Sales-Tax Increase
YOLO (CBS13) — Yolo County Supervisors voted down a proposed countywide sales-tax increase on the 2016 ballot. The measure would have funneled millions to education and transportation initiatives.
"Obviously, I'm disappointed," said Jesse Ortiz, the superintendent of Yolo County schools.
He was in favor of a 0.25- or 0.5-cent sales tax to give children better access to preschool.
"We have to start looking at preschool as an investment and not as a cost," said Ortiz.
Ortiz says every dollar spent on preschool returns $7 down the road.
And there are twice as many children eligible for preschool than their are slots for them to attend.
"If we wait for state and federal, its not probably going to get there," said Ortiz, "so we have a responsibility, Ipersonally believe, to work on this locally."
"The community really does want to see some sort of early childhood education county wide," said Oscar Villegas, Supervisor District 1.
Villegas says he understands the need, but voted against the proposal which would have added between $8 and $16 a year into the county's general fund. It's money to be used on preschool, transportation improvements, and to combat homelessness.
"There is no reason for the county to be competing at the same time that two cities are putting measures on their ballot in November," said Villegas.
He says it's simply bad timing. The proposed countywide tax would have been in addition to a proposed 0.5 cent tax increase in Woodland and a 0.25-cent increase in West Sacramento.
"I think that's a lot to digest all at once," said Villegas.
Matt Rexroad, Supervisor District 3, also saw red flags with the proposal.
"Who would manage the money? Exactly what it would be spent for? Who would be responsible for it? What the criteria for success would be?" said Rexroad.
He wanted to see a more defined plan coming from the school system.
"We didn't have anything to go in front of the voters and say this is exactly what we're going to do," said Rexroad, "and I think that's a problem."
A countywide poll did find that more than 60% of people in Yolo county would vote for a sales tax increase, but Rexroad argues that voter priorities were not taken into account.
The tax increase is likely off the ballot for 2016. It's possible another version will be presented for supervisors to discuss in 2018.
