Politics & Government

Rohnert Park's Sales Tax-Extending Ballot Measure Generating Little Heat

The upcoming Measure E election has incited little activity on either side of the debate over the proposed extension of the sales tax hike. Is it a slam dunk? Tell us what you think and why in the Comments below.

Three years after Rohnert Park voters resoundingly approved a half-cent sales tax hike to maintain city services in the face of a $5 million deficit, a measure on the Nov. 5 ballot will ask them to extend that sales tax hike permanently or until the City Council votes to suspend it.

Does anyone care?

No organized political action committees have formed around Measure A, and thus there have been no campaign finance filings. The Aug. 19 deadline has long since passed for an organization or individual to submit a formal argument in opposition to the ballot measure – so there won't be one.

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Measure A proposes to extend Measure E, a half-cent sales tax that was passed in June 2010 and originally intended to expire in 2015. Voters backed Measure E by 55.3 percent to 44.7 percent, raising the city’s sales tax rate to 9.5 percent.

So is the lack of heat in the upcoming Measure E election an indication of broad support for the sales tax extension, or simple apathy? Tell us what you think and why in the Comments below.

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here's the ballot language for Measure A: Rohnert Park Continuation of Essential Services Funding Measure:

To preserve the safety and character of Rohnert Park, and maintain/protect general City services, including 9-1-1 emergency response; fire protection; neighborhood police patrols; gang/sex offender enforcement; disaster preparedness; street paving/pothole repair; park maintenance; and other essential services, shall the City of Rohnert Park continue a voter-approved ½ cent sales tax, subject to annual audits and public review, keeping money from Sacramento, and without raising existing tax rates?


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