Updated 10:08 p.m., March 23–
By Mike Hazlip— Several elected officials along with other area activists met Thursday night at a local restaurant, highlighting the defeat of the Measure M tax increase in Citrus Heights during the last election and setting their sights on future elections.
Sacramento Taxpayers Association President Bruce Lee led the meeting at El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant, where Citrus Heights Vice Mayor Tim Schaefer proudly presented the city’s budget showing a surplus without the additional 1% sales tax, which failed to pass in 2020.
“We finished the year last year, without passing Measure M, with a $6.2 million surplus,” Schaefer said, appearing to reference the city’s budget for the last fiscal year which initially projected a shortfall of $3.7 million but ended up with $6.2 million more than anticipated in revenues.
The numbers Schaefer presented did not include additional money the city received from federal COVID relief, he said. The vice mayor later clarified that the revenue did not include American Rescue Plan Act relief funding but “did include $3.1 million in additional money the city received in COVID relief, including $1.1 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding and the $2.0 million reimbursement from the Great Plates Program.”
Schaefer added that cuts to the Police Department in a budget passed 3-2 last April caused some officers to seek employment with other agencies. He said the current budget aims to rebuild the department.
From last year: Citrus Heights passes controversial budget in split 3-2 vote
A report by The Sentinel shows last year’s budget slashed police funding by $3 million without federal stimulus money. Schaefer and Councilman Bret Daniels were the dissenting votes.
Speaking at the event, Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost said the association has worked to “hold the line” on taxes, saying, “We’re always fighting rising taxes, regulations, and fees.”
During the meeting, Lee gave prospective political candidates a few minutes each to make announcements about their campaigns, with one woman, Marijane Lopez-Taff, stating she is running for Citrus Heights City Council.
The March 17 “Talk and Tacos” event was hosted by the Sacramento Taxpayers Association, which was the main organization that spearheaded opposition to Measure M in Citrus Heights. The measure sought to raise the local sales tax by 1% to boost the city’s general fund budget, but the measure fell short of the majority vote needed to pass.
Related: City releases statement after defeat of Measure M sales tax
