Clovis voters face a difficult decision March 3

If Measure A passes, city will have third-highest sales tax rate in the state.

Published online on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009

Clovis voters are being asked March 3 to decide between their city and their pocketbook.

The city is asking voters to approve a 1-cent sales tax increase to support municipal services and offset revenue declines resulting from the housing collapse and the recession.

Measure A is expected to raise about $13 million annually. If the measure fails, proponents say, the city will have to close parks and fire stations, lay off police and slash services.

"Quality-of-life issues are at stake," former Police Chief Jim Zulim said.

"In Clovis, we are at a ... crossroads."

But opponents, including some business people and the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, argue that a recession is the wrong time to raise taxes that could drive away customers from Clovis businesses.

"Not all of the Clovis way of life comes from the government," said Don Watnick, a Clovis businessman opposed to the tax measure. "Much of it comes from the people. ... We will have to step up that much more."

The Clovis sales tax is now 7.975%. If Measure A passes, Clovis will have the state's third-highest sales tax rate when it goes into effect in July. Sanger, Dinuba, Reedley and Selma also rank among the state's 30 highest sales tax rates, according to the state Board of Equalization.

Clovis' sales tax measure comes just as state lawmakers are considering their own 1-cent sales tax increase to help close a $42 billion state budget gap through June 2010.

Supporters of Clovis' sales tax measure said the state's proposal shouldn't hurt the city measure's prospects -- rather, it underscores how bad off governments are as they try to pay for services that citizens expect. Opponents say the measure, coupled with the state's tax proposal, would add to taxpayers' pain.

The city is facing its first layoffs in 16 years and has cut $8 million from its budget during the past two years. Two dozen police and fire department jobs have been cut -- nearly all of them vacant positions.

If more cuts are required, said City Council Member Harry Armstrong, a Measure A supporter, the city would have to lock parks, close a fire station and lay off police and firefighters.

Those opposed to the measure say it comes when the economy is in a tailspin and people are losing jobs.

Bob Whalen, a Measure A opponent and Clovis mayor, said city residents are cutting their household budgets because of the down economy and the city should do the same. He also faulted the measure for not having an expiration date.

"It's too much of a tax for too long," Whalen said.

Watnick said one alternative would be a citywide property assessment earmarked specifically for police and fire services.

Mark Blackney, chief executive of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, said the citizen committee appointed in 2007 to look into a tax measure recommended only a quarter-cent sales tax increase for seven years.

Since the committee issued its report, Armstrong said, Clovis' financial condition has worsened with $5.4 million in cuts in the current budget year.

Pat Cummings, a business owner and Measure A supporter, said complaints about lost business were raised in 1999, before city voters approved a similar sales tax measure to build a fire station and public safety headquarters.

"There wasn't a loss in customers the last time," Cummings said. "Our customers say it doesn't hurt them and they laugh about driving somewhere else."

Opponents say the latest measure is being billed as a way to save police and fire services. But proceeds would flow to the city's general fund and wouldn't be earmarked specifically for public safety.

But Zulim, the former police chief, said public safety receives more than 80% of the city's general fund money and would be the major beneficiary of the measure.

He said Clovis police had to disband its gang response team and traffic division because of the city's recent budget cuts. He also said the number of gang members in the city is on the rise and crime is increasing.