Citizen-led Folsom tax measure exceeds signature minimum for ballot

The citizen-led Folsom Takes Action (FTA) announced it has enough signatures for its proposed 1-cent tax measure to appear on November's ballot, according to a press release. FTA has collected 8,279 signatures in support of the sales tax. For ballot consideration, only 5,610 were required, but FTA collected more to add a "healthy margin" and "to demonstrate the breadth of public support for the measure," the press release said. The petitions were sent to the city clerk's office April 30 for signature verification, then sent to the Sacramento County Voter Registration and Elections Office for formal verification that the required number of valid signatures has been gathered. Formal verification is estimated to take about 30 days. FTA proposed a 1-percent sales tax increase in December and began collecting signatures to make it a reality. They want to ensure it will be used solely for traffic, public safety, street repairs and other quality-of-life improvements to the city, as opposed to the general fund or city employee retirement pensions, according to a previous Gold Mountain California News Media article. Twenty percent of revenue generated through this sales tax would go to police and crime reduction; 20 percent for fire, rescue and emergency medical services; 15 percent for parks, recreation facilities and trails; 15 percent for traffic mitigation and environmental water quality; 15 percent for community enhancement and economic development and 15 percent for major capital improvement projects. The proposal estimates the tax will raise $29 million annually. "Folsom residents want to see our quality of life preserved," said FTA co-chair Bruce Cline. "They want enhanced public safety, they want parks and trails improved, and they want to be part of a thriving city that's attracting jobs and adding amenities and services, rather than cutting them." Folsom City Manager Elaine Andersen presented the sales tax increase at a special City Council meeting Oct. 24 2023, according to a previous Gold Mountain California News Media article. She said, "If voters were to approve a local sales tax measure, 100 percent of the revenue from that measure would go to the city of Folsom. That is to say, the revenue would not be shared with other agencies." The passing of this sales tax would double the local sales tax the city receives, according to Andersen. The city recognized the need for a sales tax increase, with Andersen saying, "We have reached a crossroads where we are projecting growing structural deficits beginning in the next fiscal year and increasing from here. Structural deficit does not mean we are in deficit right now. It means that, looking forward, if we want to keep doing exactly what we are doing right now, we will be unable to continue to do so."