There are two local propositions on the ballot in Pinole- measure R from the county, a measure to tax marijuana growers in unincorporated areas, and Measure C from the city of Pinole, a measure to extend the existing Utility User’s tax (UUT) without a sunset clause.
I support Measures R and C.
Measure R seems like a reasonable tax levy to cover the costs to the county of regulating those products. I support it.
While I would have preferred a process that allowed for more stakeholder input on Measure C, and would like to have a Citizen’s Budget Oversight Committee created in the future to provide that input, I support Measure C. The city is already overly reliant on sales tax revenue as is (as I’ve gone over at some length on my platform and in my review of the city’s budget in text and in graph forms). The loss of the UUT revenue would make the city even more reliant on sales taxes, which would leave us vulnerable to the economic downturn we know is coming. While the city can place the UUT on the ballot again if it does not pass in this election, it will incur substantial financial costs in doing so. The city will be required to create two budgets, one with the UUT revenue and one without. This will be a substantial additional demand on staff time. In addition, it will greatly increase uncertainty as to whether the city would be able to pay all of its employees, harming recruiting efforts. For all of these reasons, I support Measure C.
Rafael's thoughts 