Would You Vote for a Local Tax in San Anselmo?

At Tuesday's San Anselmo Town Council meeting, the council discussed a number of ways to create additional revenue in the town. The town has been struggling financially for a number of years, said Town Manager Debbie Stutsman. 

"We've been in a declining state since early 2011," said Stutsman, due to the state taking more money from local towns, declining revenues, and increasing expenditures -- one of the largest increases, she said, has been in pension and health care costs.

The town has already taken a number of steps to combat costs, both Stutsman and a number of council members pointed out, including decreasing from 63 to 52 fulltime employees, adopting a two-tiered pension system for new hires and had a number of budget cuts. The town has also adopted a number of different consolidation and creative measures to save money, including rearranging the Recreation Department and.

Still, said Council Member Barbara Thornton, the roads are rapidly deteriorating and the town doesn't have the money to fix everything that needs to be fixed.

The three options discussed were:

• Local Sales Tax -- A half-percent sales tax in San Anselmo would raise $455,000 directly for the town. .
• Special Tax -- A special tax for a specific purpose would be levied on properties in town and would require a 2/3 vote as opposed to a simple majority. The library parcel tax that passed last year is an example of a special tax.
• Utility Users Tax  -- Fifty percent of residents in California pay a utility users tax, which can be levied on any utility -- telephone, electricity, gas, water. Fairfax has a 4 percent utility user tax on gas, electricity and phone that raises $355,000 annually.

The council felt residents wouldn't support higher taxes and Kris Kelson, from the , said small local businesses would be hurt by a sales tax during the economic recession.

Both Council Members Tom McInerney and Ford Greene also said they didn't think a general tax that would go into town coffers, without a specific purpose, would be welcomed by the public without some pension reform.

"It's a tough sell," said Council Member Kay Coleman.

Council Member Jeff Kroot, though, said he thought San Anselmo residents love San Anselmo and the town needs to do something to make sure roads are paved and the town maintained.

Thornton suggested that every council member go out and talk to their constituents about the possible taxes to get a finger on the pulse of the community. The council will come back at the June 28 meeting to discuss putting one of those kinds of taxes on the November ballot.

Share your thoughts about the taxes below, so the council members can get your feedback. And consider these questions:

• Would you support a local sales tax?
• Would you support a parcel or utility tax?
• Would you support a tax that was for general town funds or that was earmarked for specific needs?
• If not, why not? What would need to change for you to support one of these taxes?
• What other solutions can you suggest for the town's budget problems?