Atwater police, fire need more funds, city leaders say. Will voters support a higher tax?
A major revenue source for Atwater’s police and fire departments is slated to expire next year — unless voters support renewing an existing local tax at a higher rate during the upcoming general election.
Atwater voters originally approved Measure H in 2013, with a 2023 sunset. The half-cent transactions and use tax generates about $2 million annually for the city’s police and fire departments.
With the 2023 expiration date looming, many city officials and residents have voiced distress over what would happen to Atwater’s public safety services if a $2 million chunk of funding is lost.
“This major funding source, if it were to go away, would dramatically impact our ability to deliver services to our community,” Atwater Police Chief Michael Salvador told the Sun-Star.
The City Council on Monday unanimously endorsed placing a renewal of Measure H on the November ballot. But this time, the tax would be set at one-cent rather than half a cent, generating an estimated $4 million for public safety annually. The measure also lacks a sunset date, meaning if passed, it won’t end until terminated by voters.
The City Council’s action on Monday directed Atwater staff to formally bring back an official ballot measure for public comment and City Council consideration at a future meeting.
Economic doubts cast shadow over support
Despite the unanimous vote, City Council members and residents have each stated concerns about the likelihood of Atwater voters supporting a tax increase amid nation-wide worries over gas prices, inflation and the future of the U.S. economy.
In order to pass, the tax measure would have to be approved by two-thirds of voters.
FM3 Research, a public policy opinion polling company, conducted surveying of Atwater residents to gauge support for a one-cent public safety tax.
Survey results generally showed that Atwater residents strongly support their police and fire departments — and would like to see funding boosted for each to better address crime and other emergencies.
However, polling also showed citizens are already concerned about the cost of gas, inflation and housing prices, casting doubt over the likelihood or voters supporting a tax increase.
After hearing arguments both in favor of and against a one-cent public safety tax, total support for the measure came to just 61%, according to FM3 Research data.
Overall, results indicated it would be “extremely” challenging to garner the two-thirds support necessary for a one-cent tax.
A similar Measure H renewal, dubbed Measure O, was attempted by the city during the 2020 primary election. Although more voters cast their ballots in support of the one-cent tax than against it, the measure failed to reach the necessary two-thirds threshold.
“It is very likely that a one-cent (tax) would get a majority from voters, but probably end up in a similar place as Measure O, which is under two-thirds,” FM3 Partner and COO Curtis Below told Atwater officials Monday.
FM3 Research recommended city leaders put Measure H on the ballot at a half-cent rate, as residents would likely be more willing to support a measure that doesn’t additionally raise taxes. That would allow Atwater to protect its existing public safety funds while allowing the option to seek additional revenue during a future election.
Atwater residents who spoke at Monday’s meeting voiced both support and criticism of raising Measure H to one- cent. Although the City Council landed on the side of those advocating for a second attempt at a public safety tax hike, members appeared conflicted over whether to endorse a half-cent or one-cent measure.
Mayor Pro Tem John Cale, serving in the absence of Mayor Paul Creighton, made an initial motion to put a half-cent tax on the ballot. That motion failed on account of receiving support from just half of the Council members present.
A second motion by Councilmember Tyler Button for a one-cent tax without sunset received unanimous approval. “Atwater, we do deserve better services,” Button said, adding that raising the tax would change the city’s public safety services for the better. “This is a huge decision.”
Proponents echoed Button, stating the boost is what the fire and police departments need to improve services and keep up with their own rising costs.
“It takes more to hire a firefighter, it takes more to hire a police officer, than it did when we first approved this tax several years ago,” resident Kory Billings said.
Uncertain future if public safety tax fails
Measure H is a substantial source for Atwater’s public safety revenue. If it isn’t renewed by voters in November, the city would be faced with a sudden $2 million shortage in its public safety budget when the tax measure sunsets.
The repercussions of a loss that large would likely be felt throughout other city departments besides police and fire, as city leaders would be faced with difficult decisions during the next budget cycle, Salvador said.
Atwater’s public safety tax provides roughly 20 cents on every dollar the police department spends and pays for about a third of the police force, according to Salvador.
The half-cent tax also helped upgrade the police department’s computer system and replace vehicles in the department’s fleet that were a decade-plus old.
Without boosted Measure H revenue, Salvador said the police department can’t make many necessary improvements, or maintain the strides made, for long.
With the cost of running the police department escalating, Salvador said the half-cent tax doesn’t cover the level of service he’d like to see the police department perform for the community.
Meanwhile, the department’s needs are growing, with calls for service up about 40% in the last six months, Salvador said.
Police and fire department staffing issues, as well as emergency response times, have each been frequently cited by Atwater residents and officials as needing upgrades.
“This tax measure will go a very, very long way in improving the quality and quantity of service provide to the residents of Atwater,” Salvador said.
If the one-cent tax passes in November, the police chief said he hopes to bring the number of officers up to 32 — four more than are authorized in this year’s budget.
With Measure H heading to November ballots, Salvador said the police and fire departments will try to convince voters that they’re worthy stewards of the public’s money.
“We’re going to do everything possible to show the voters we’re a safe bet,” he said. “I think we’ve done a good job of that, but ultimately the voters get to decide.”
This story was originally published July 13, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
