Voters will decide on the fate of Measure Y tomorrow, a piece of legislation proposing a half-cent sales tax increase for the city of San Luis Obispo.
The current sales tax throughout the county is 7.25 percent, the lowest sales tax allowed by the state. The proposed increase would bring the sales tax to 7.75 percent, which is still less than what 85 percent of Californians pay.
Measure Y would provide approximately $4.5 million in revenue for San Luis Obispo. Supporters say that this additional revenue would be put towards community services such as neighborhood street paving, police protection, fire and paramedic services, traffic congestion relief and creek and flood protection.
Others are skeptical of Measure Y because it is a “general purpose” tax, and San Luis Obispo isn’t required to spend the money on any community services in particular.
“I haven’t completely read up on it yet, but I’m pretty sure I’ll vote against it,” said Ben Billings, a mechanical engineering sophomore and San Luis Obispo voter. “I’m a poor, poor college student, and I’m not likely to vote for something that perpetuates that problem. Plus, if I’ve heard right, SLO gets to use the money however they want.”
On July 18, the San Luis Obispo City Council unanimously approved the placement of Measure Y on Tuesday’s ballot. While speakers at that City Council meeting were largely in favor of the measure, Cal Poly students aren’t as eager to accept the tax increase.
“I’m not exactly sure how this will impact Cal Poly,” said ASI board of directors chairman Jared Samarin after the July City Council meeting. “I know a good number of students aren’t registered to vote in San Luis Obispo County, but they’ll still be required to pay the sales tax.”
To put the half-cent increase in perspective, the adoption of Measure Y would add a sales tax of $5 to a $1,000 purchase, or a tax of 50 cents to a $100 purchase.
“I don’t think that’s a lot of money,” said Andrew Cortado, a fruit science sophomore and San Luis Obispo voter. “You could probably find 50 cents on the ground. If it helps the city, why not?”
Similar measures are found on several other local ballots. Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Morro Bay and Pismo Beach all have Measure Y equivalents on their ballots. Paso Robles has decided against a tax increase measure.
If approved, Measure Y will become effective April 1 of next year. The sales tax increase will be up for review in eight years, when voters can either renew or repeal Measure Y.