As both sides of Measure F push to grow the number of voters in their corner—with less than two weeks until Election Day—the debate swirling around the half-percent sales tax increase on the ballot is heating up.
Mayor Don Gage, who first proposed using a tax measure to fund long-needed capital improvement projects like citywide street and sidewalk repair, said the dialogue between supporters and the opposition has grown increasingly negative, ever since the council voted to place it on the ballot.
“This is more political than anything I have ever dealt with,” Gage said, who has been involved in politics at the local and county level for 33 years. Gage formed a committee in favor of Measure F, and car dealers have so far contributed the most to his campaign—$7,500 of $15,850 collected between Sept. 11 and 30—according to a review of public records. Campaign finance filings for October were not available as of press time.
The committee opposing Measure F, formed by Bruce’s Tire owner and former Downtown Business Association director Eric Howard, received its largest contribution during the same September reporting period from GilPAC, the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce’s political action committee. GilPAC contributed $2,500, according to campaign finance filings. Shortly after the council voted on Aug. 4 to place the tax measure on the ballot, the Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to oppose the tax hike, citing a lack of accountability.
On Tuesday afternoon, opponents of Measure F gathered at the intersection of 10th and Monterey streets, carrying orange signs reading “Measure F no,” “no blank checks,” “no oversight” and “protect working families.” It was the first rally of election season, and some drivers passing by honked their horns in support—including a UPS driver who excitedly gave two thumbs up—as some of the measure’s opponents cheered.
“I’m not happy about a half-cent increase,” said Diana Bentz, of Gilroy, as she stood on the corner with a stack of fliers. “I’m always tuned into an increase in taxes. That matters, especially in this area. It’s going to hurt people who need that money in their pockets.”
If it’s approved by a simple majority of voters Nov. 4—50 percent, plus one vote—Gilroy’s sales tax would rise from 8.75 to 9.25 percent, and it would have the highest sales tax rate in Santa Clara County. According to city estimates, the measure will garner annual revenue between $5.7 and $7 million.
But if Measure F passes, Gage said residents will be able to see their money at work and ensure that projects like street and sidewalk repair, park improvements, and expansion of after-school programs for at-risk youth will be checked off the list.
“We can borrow money against the revenue—$40 or $50 million—and we can start all of these programs. We’ll get the contractors ready to go, let them start working on a cycle and we will create jobs in this community,” he added. “We’ll have $100 million in work to be done. After all these years of not doing anything, it’s really time to invest in our community.”
The idea for a measure to address a growing list of infrastructure repairs and upgrades to public facilities came about after community members approached Gage asking for funding to support programs for youth, enhance local parks and more. And with a 15-year half-cent local tax, Gage said a litany of infrastructure projects and amenities for residents can be tackled, including the expansion of police and fire protection.
“By fixing up the city and creating a prosperous community, more businesses will start to move here,” Gage said. “We already have the groundwork laid for people to come here, we just don’t have the infrastructure—the streets, the sidewalks—that match that.”
On the other hand, Bentz said while she trusts Gage and the current council, the tax measure’s 15-year life and the fact there will be numerous elections by the time it sunsets make her less inclined to consider it.
“They say it’s going to build up all this infrastructure, police, fire, improve safety and all that stuff and I think they probably mean it, but 10 years from now who is going to be on the City Council to decide that?” she said.
Gilroyan Jeanette Hudson said at the rally she takes issue with the type of tax Measure F would institute—a general-purpose sales tax that can be legally used for any purpose.
“Everything goes into the General Fund, and that’s the trouble,” she added. “The council says where and the oversight committee says ‘okay, I see you did that.’ We are part of Silicon Valley and there are so many richer cities, but we’re going to be the highest? I just feel sorry for businesses in town.”
“Other cities have the same stores we do,” pointed out Gilroyan Penny Wojahn, suggesting shoppers might be more inclined to shop in Morgan Hill, for example.
While some posit a higher tax rate will deter residents from shopping locally and even out-of-town shoppers, Gage said he believes the measure will make Gilroy a better place to live and residents will be a part of the process.
The council will discuss which projects receive Measure F funding, and will ask for suggestions from members of the public, during the annual council retreat, according to Gage.
“There’s no two ways about it—we’re going to fix the streets, the sidewalks and we’re going to fix the parks. As the years pass, priorities may change,” he added. “But we’ll have public hearings and we’re going to ask people what they want and what they’d like to see. You need a little bit of flexibility and you can’t do that with a bond.”
“There’s no two ways about it—we’re going to fix the streets, the sidewalks and we’re going to fix the parks. As the years pass, priorities may change. But we’ll have public hearings and we’re going to ask people what they want and what they’d like to see. You need a little bit of flexibility and you can’t do that with a bond.”
-Mayor Don Gage
“I’m not happy about a half-cent increase. I’m always tuned into an increase in taxes. That matters, especially in this area. It’s going to hurt people who need that money in their pockets.”
-Diana Bentz, of Gilroy
