Sentinel staff report–
In the city’s first public statement following the defeat of a $12 million sales tax proposal in Citrus Heights, the city manager acknowledged the decision of voters and said community involvement will be invited in upcoming budget considerations.
The city’s statement came Wednesday, following Sacramento County election officials certifying the vote on Dec. 1st. Measure M was defeated after falling short of the majority support needed to pass.
Out of a total of 40,295 votes cast in the Measure M contest, 47% voted in favor of the one-cent-per-dollar sales tax, falling about 2,000 votes short. The measure still fared better than the city’s Measure K tax proposal did eight years ago, which received just 44% support.
“We are grateful to the residents who participated in this unique election, and our dedicated staff will continue to work closely with the community as important budget decisions are considered,” said City Manager Chris Boyd in the statement. “As we head into strategic planning and budget updates, we will look to balance and align with what our community prioritizes.”
Read full statement: click here
Boyd cited priorities determined by a community survey the city conducted over the past year, where residents said they wanted to see priorities focus on crime investigation and prevention, school safety and security, street maintenance and pothole repair, homelessness reduction programs, and support for local businesses and jobs.
The city had cited the survey as a key reason for placing Measure M on the ballot, noting that budget projections show shortfalls over the next 10 years without cuts or new sources of revenue.
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