Voters in multiple Monterey County cities appear to have shot down multiple tax proposals that would have funded fire and emergency services through property tax increases in Soledad and Gonzales and a sales tax increase in the city of Monterey.
Monterey was also looking to plug a budget deficit with its measure, Measure D. That measure is in a tighter contest than measures in Soledad and Gonzales, which both appear headed for an uphill battle because they need two-thirds majority to pass and were losing as of the first unofficial results as the polls closed on Tuesday night.
Pacific Grove voters also appear poised to decline to give their city councilmembers and mayor a raise, with about 56% of voters rejecting the city’s Measure C, which would raise councilmembers monthly pay from $420 to $987, and the mayor’s from $700 to $1,645.
There were 3,668 votes by mail for that contest returned by the time polls closed on Election Day. Ballots postmarked by Tuesday will be counted if they arrive by June 9. The results will be certified on June 26.
In the city of Monterey, voters were deciding if the city should increase the sales tax charged within the city limits by another 0.375% for nine years. It was projected to raise $4.5 million a year that would have gone into the general fund to pay for a variety of city services, including fire and 911 dispatch service, as well as help plug a $12 million budget deficit.
The current sales tax rate is 9.5%, which includes the 7.25% base state sales tax plus four other temporary increases.
With all in-person precincts reporting and 4,589 votes received by mail by 8 p.m. on Election Day, about 51.9% of voters had rejected the measure. It needs a simple majority to pass.
Voters in the cities of Soledad and Gonzales were deciding on similar parcel tax measures that would have exclusively funded fire and emergency dispatch services in those cities.
Soledad asked if Measure A should be approved to increase property taxes by $233 for a single-family home, and by $174 per residence for a property with multiple units. For commercial or other non-residential parcels, the tax would go up between $99 and $134.
As of 8 p.m., with 1,154 votes received by mail and all in-person precincts reporting, about 52% of voters have rejected the measure in unofficial results. It needs over 66% voting in favor to pass. It was projected to raise about $1million a year in revenue.
Gonzales voters also appear to have rejected that city’s Measure B. It would have raised property taxes there by $349 for single-family homes, and by $262 per residence for properties with multiple units.
The tax on non-residential parcels would increase between $148 and $201 based on use, and another 7 cents per building square foot.
The tax was expected to raise $665,000 to fund equipment and 911 staffing and retain firefighters for the Gonzales Fire Department.
About 52% of voters had recorded no votes in the unofficial first vote tally on Tuesday night, with 273 voting against compared to 247 voting in favor of the measure, which also needs two-thirds of votes to pass.