HollisterFreelance.com | Nearly half of Measure T spending headed to police

Nearly half of Measure T spending headed to police

Oct 21, 2008
By Colin McConville





		This driver suspected to be under the influence in this May file photo is taken into custody by Hollister police.
		Photo by: Free Lance file photo

HOLLISTER

The Measure T Oversight Committee reported Monday that Hollister is set to allocate 44 percent of its extra sales-tax dollars to the police department during the 2008-09 fiscal year.

The oversight panel's presentation - a requirement with voters' approval last year of the 1 percent tax hike - reported a breakdown of spending and concluded that Hollister City Council members will spend all of the additional dollars on "restoration and enhancement" of public services as set forth in the Measure T proposal.

Even while injecting nearly half of the sales-tax money into new services - $1.43 million of the $2.8 million estimate - the city still is projecting a $283,000 deficit for the year, the committee reported.

Overall, the general fund revenues for fiscal year 08-09 are projected at about $13.1 million while the city is set to spend around $14.7 million. It makes for a total general fund deficit of $1.66 million that doesn't include the Measure T injection.

Of the $1.43 million in new spending, the following city departments will be allocated the following percentage of the funds - 44 percent for police, 19 percent for administration, 19 percent for community services and 18 percent for fire services, according to the report.

Measure T, approved in November 2007, raised city sales taxes 1 percent for a five-year period to help offset the cost of police, fire and city workers in a down economy. So far, the money has been used to hire two school beat officers, one patrol officer, one firefighter and two maintenance workers, the report said.

These new positions have been filled, but there also have been reclassifications of job titles, which also came with pay hikes to coincide with the new positions. The reclassified positions include a fire engineer, a recreation supervisor and a Veterans Memorial Building coordinator.

Many Measure T positions remain unfilled, but some are in the process of recruitment, the committee reported.

Look for an expanded version of this story in Friday's Free Lance.

Colin McConville
Colin McConville is a reporter with the Hollister Free Lance. You can reach him by email or at (831) 637-5566.