This morning the SLO Chamber – after months of extensive research, volunteer committee work and member input – announced its support of the renewal of Measure Y, the city’s half-cent general sales tax that is due to sunset in March 2015. The Chamber Board of Directors voted unanimously to support a general sales tax with an eight-year sunset clause that includes new safeguards to strengthen our city as a place to live and do business. The Chamber strongly believes that a renewal must be accompanied by a commitment from the city council to greater accountability that ensures prudent use of these tax revenues. In addition to the establishment of a citizen’s oversight committee specifically for the half-cent sales tax, the Chamber is recommending greater transparency in the city’s financial management with the inclusion of a user-friendly online dashboard to help the public understand spending and investment trends. The Chamber’s support of Measure Y is underpinned by the belief that our community is better off with this additional revenue as it supports important improvements in San Luis Obispo and provides resources to support the priorities identified by residents that enhance our quality of life. This can only be possible with a true commitment by our city’s leadership to reverse the upward trend of unsustainable costs.
Click here to read a letter from SLO Chamber Board Chair Tim Williams.