Clovis tax hike: No sale

One-cent tax proposal defeated by large margin; council incumbents Lynne Ashbeck, Nathan Magsig keep seats.

Published online on Wednesday, Mar. 04, 2009

Clovis voters soundly defeated a one-cent sales tax measure Tuesday night.

But City Council incumbents Lynne Ashbeck and Nathan Magsig, supporters of Measure A, beat challenger Douglas Foster, who ran a campaign in opposition to the sales tax measure. Two seats were up for grabs in Tuesday's election.

Clovis city officials had hitched their future to the passage of Measure A, which was expected to raise nearly $13 million a year to restore city services that have been cut over the past two years. But the nation's economic downturn and California's recent tax hikes, including another one-cent sales-tax increase, created challenges for the measure.

Opponents said the tax increase was proposed at the wrong time, as businesses and families are suffering in the economic downturn. They also said it could have driven Clovis shoppers to Fresno.

City Manager Kathy Millison said she was disappointed by the results. She said the measure failed because of "the current economic climate and recent actions of the state Legislature."

She said the council will have difficult decisions ahead. The council, Millison said, will have to look at more cuts or consider other measures to add money to the city's budget.

Measure A was defeated by more than a 2-to-1 margin. A majority vote was needed for passage.

After casting her ballot at Freedom Elementary School, Elaine Yama said she voted against the measure after initially supporting it.

"I had a sign of support outside my house," she said. "But after the state budget was passed, it was just too much [in taxes]."

Outside Clovis Missionary Baptist Church, Brian Roberts said taxes already are too high.

"It's the wrong time for the city to raise taxes," he said. "It's nothing against the city."

As election results filtered in, Magsig said the voters seemed to be well-informed.

"The voters seem to be satisfied with the incumbents, but the residents want us to find solutions for the budget," he said. "When it comes to Measure A, voters are already overburdened with taxation, and they can't handle any more."

Ashbeck said she gleaned a positive message from the results.

"They appreciate our governance, but the voters are not interested in a sales tax," she said. "They recognize that what we did was put it on the ballot and let the voters weigh in."

Magsig and Ashbeck were seeking their third four-year terms on the council.

Foster said he was encouraged by the results despite his defeat because he campaigned against two popular incumbents.

"It's not a bad showing for a low-budget, grass-roots campaign," he said. "I feel good about it."

Foster said he walked precincts every day the past four weeks and hopes he might have played a part in the defeat of Measure A.

"I think I may have played a small role in raising people's awareness," he said.

Supporters of Measure A agreed that the timing was bad, but said they had been working on a sales-tax proposal for two years as the city's financial situation continued to worsen.

The city has been stung by the souring economy and significant losses in sales-tax revenue and reduced property-tax revenue. An additional $330,000 has been taken from the city in vehicle-license fees.

As part of the cuts, the city is laying off 18 people, the first layoffs in 16 years. All city employees, including council members, have taken pay cuts of 4.3% or more.