San Luis Obispo’s Measure G is out performing its previous projections. The one-half percent sales tax brought in $7.1 million during the 2014-15 fiscal year, a 5 percent increase over the previous year, according to a recent report.
The Chamber-supported measure helps to ensure funding for essential services and facilities such as capital improvement projects, flood protection work and public safety.
Chamber support for the renewal of the measure was based on increased transparency and the formation of a fiscal oversight body. This resulted in the creation of an Annual Community Report and the Citizen’s Revenue Enhancement Oversight Commission.
“Over the inaugural year the commission has created a framework to review and report on expenditures of the sales tax measure revenue by the City Council,” said Amy Kardel, chair of the commission. “We have testified at council and in our community report that taxpayer monies are being spent according to the voter’s intent.”
The commission is currently made up of five city-resident members who review, report and make recommendations to the City Council regarding revenue and expenditure of the tax.
Initially adopted in 2008 and renewed in 2014, the sales tax has generated more than $50 million since it was enacted.
According to the March Local Revenue Measure Annual Community Report during the 2014-15 fiscal year the money raised by the Measure went towards:
Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement: $3 million
- Provided 43% of the funding for the completion of the SLO Skate Park at Santa Rosa.
- Reconstruction and resurfacing of 1.25 million square feet of city roads.
- Completed the Downtown Renewal Project consisting of Mission Style Sidewalk on Higuera Street, 10 new tree grates, five replacement Ficus trees, 5,600 square feet of new sidewalks, three new bike racks, tree light conduit and receptacles and six new trash cans.
- Exterior painting of the Jack House.
- Installation of a 242 foot Mission Plaza railing.
- Installing new playground equipment at Emerson Park.
- Paving the parking lot at Sinsheimer Park.
- Replacing two pumps at the Johnson Avenue overpass.
Public safety: $1.9 million
- Implemented Quickest Route emergency response software to ensure the closest fire crew is dispatched to a given emergency.
- An upgrade to the public safety vehicle computer systems.
- Purchased six new police vehicles.
- Helped to support nearly 10,000 hours of police and fire safety work.
Maintenance services: $1.4 million
- Replaced 54 feet of corrugated storm drains with high-density polyethylene pipe.
- Cleared 41 tons of debris and added street sweeping.
- Completed design on Sinsheimer Park play equipment.
- Funded staff including storm water collections operators, a street maintenance worker and a signal and streetlight tech.
Neighborhood wellness: $268,000
- Expanded hours and responsibilities of Student Neighborhood Assistance Program (SNAP).
- Supported code enforcement services helping to close 911 of a total of 1,305 cases.
Traffic congestion relief: $134,000
- Completed Traffic Safety Report, showing total collisions are down 4% and bike collisions are down 21% year over year.
- Restriped Chorro and Mill streets and painted green bike lanes throughout the city.
- Construction of concrete diverter on Fixlini Street scheduled to begin.
- Support the traffic engineer position.
Open space preservation
- Authorized exploration of three separate land conservation opportunities at the headwater of San Luis Creek and Irish Hills.
- Added to ranger staff.