1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:09,440 Good evening everyone and welcome. We really appreciate you logging on to be a 2 00:00:06,799 --> 00:00:13,519 part of tonight's discussion. My name is Mario Rantelia and I am the public 3 00:00:11,599 --> 00:00:18,000 information officer for the city of Los Centro. We organized this virtual 4 00:00:16,080 --> 00:00:24,560 gathering to have a conversation and share information about Measure T. Civic 5 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:28,320 engagement is vital to our city. So we are eager to hear your thoughts and 6 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:33,920 answer your questions later in the program. Please don't hesitate to speak 7 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:40,200 up during the Q&A. Thank you again for being here and for your continued 8 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:40,200 dedication to the city of El Central. 9 00:00:40,559 --> 00:00:47,760 Just a few quick housekeeping items before we begin. Tonight's webinar is 10 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:54,320 being recorded for people who couldn't make it live. As attendees, your cameras 11 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:59,039 and microphones are turned off, but we still value your participation. 12 00:00:57,039 --> 00:01:03,280 Please drop your questions into the Zoom Q&A box at the bottom of your screen at 13 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:08,479 any time. We will end right at 700 p.m. If time 14 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:13,520 runs out before we get to your question, we encourage you to email us at public 15 00:01:10,479 --> 00:01:17,840 info@ cityof central.org so we can respond directly. Keep in mind 16 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:22,560 that we might group similar questions together to cover as much ground as 17 00:01:20,159 --> 00:01:27,439 possible. The full video will be available on the city's website and 18 00:01:24,479 --> 00:01:31,600 YouTube channel. As for our agenda, we'll start by discussing what is 19 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:36,320 measure T, how it will appear on the ballot, the application of Measure T if 20 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:40,920 it passes, and frequently asked questions surrounding measure T. 21 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:48,880 Measure T, the El Centro public safety city services measure, proposes a local 22 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:52,240 halfcent transactions and use tax increase to help maintain general 23 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:56,960 services. If approved by voters, measure T would 24 00:01:54,640 --> 00:02:01,920 adjust El Centro's total sales tax rate from 8.25% 25 00:01:59,119 --> 00:02:06,640 to 8.75%. This halfsent adjustment is estimated to 26 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:11,760 generate approximately 8.4 million annually in local controlled revenue for 27 00:02:09,039 --> 00:02:16,160 the general fund. The city council voted unanimous 28 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:22,560 unanimously on June 16th to place measure T on the November 3rd ballot. 29 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:27,840 Unlike state or county taxes, 100% of measure T funds are legally guaranteed 30 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:33,760 to stay in El Central. The state and county cannot take or redirect a single 31 00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:39,120 penny. The measure includes mandatory strict fiscal oversight requiring annual 32 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:44,959 annual independent financial audits and public spending disclosures. 33 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:49,840 As a general tax, if measure T passes, revenue would support day-to-day 34 00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:54,239 operations and core municipal services. It could help maintain rapid 911 35 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:58,720 response times, support neighborhood crime prevention, and help retain and 36 00:02:56,480 --> 00:03:04,159 attract well-trained firefighters, paramedics, and police officers. 37 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:09,360 It could provide funding to repair local streets and potholes, keep parks and 38 00:03:06,239 --> 00:03:13,040 public areas clean and safe, improve driver pedestrian safety, and address 39 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:18,239 homelessness. It could help maintain youth recreation, 40 00:03:15,599 --> 00:03:23,200 aquatics, senior programs, library services, and local business retention 41 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:28,239 initiatives. El Central serves a daytime population 42 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:33,920 of roughly 75,000 residents, workers, and visitors, creating continuous demand 43 00:03:30,959 --> 00:03:38,080 on our police, fire response, and street infrastructure. 44 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:43,200 Sales tax is our primary operational revenue source. 45 00:03:40,319 --> 00:03:47,680 Following a 4.61% 61% growth in fiscal year 2425. 46 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:54,159 Sales tax performance is flattening with a projected 0.99% 47 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:59,439 dip in fiscal year 2526. While the city holds approximately 38.7 48 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:03,680 million in reserve funds, these savings are set aside for natural disasters, 49 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:10,159 major emergencies, or economic downturns. They are not to be used to 50 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:14,480 fund daily ongoing operational costs. Now, let's review the exact language as 51 00:04:12,239 --> 00:04:20,239 it will officially appear on your ballot on November 3rd. 52 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:24,560 Shall the measure maintaining 911 response, helping prevent crime, 53 00:04:22,639 --> 00:04:30,400 retaining attracting well-trained firefighters, paramedics, police, 54 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:36,560 repairing streets, potholes, keeping public areas, parks safe clean, 55 00:04:33,840 --> 00:04:41,919 increasing driver pedestrian safety, addressing homelessness, retaining 56 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:46,720 attracting local businesses, maintaining youth recreation, senior library 57 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:52,080 programs, other general city services, establishing a half cents sales tax 58 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:56,800 providing approximately 8.4 annual million annually until ended by voters 59 00:04:54,880 --> 00:05:01,600 requiring audits public spending disclosure funds locally controlled be 60 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:06,160 adopted. Note that the language explicitly 61 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:13,960 highlights accountability mechanisms independent audits spending disclosures 62 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:13,960 and 100% local control. 63 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:21,919 We will now explore the sales tax application if measure T passes. 64 00:05:19,199 --> 00:05:26,800 What is not taxed? Essential items like groceries, prescription medications, and 65 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:32,400 rent are completely exempt from sales tax. What is taxed? The tax applies to 66 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:37,360 general retail goods, consumer purchases, dining out, and audio auto 67 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:41,520 sales. Because El Centro is the commercial hub 68 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:45,600 of the region, visitors and out of town shoppers who shop and dine here will 69 00:05:43,919 --> 00:05:52,000 contribute to maintaining the local services and roads they use. 70 00:05:49,199 --> 00:05:56,639 Now, let's put this into practice. This sideby-side comparison shows how measure 71 00:05:54,639 --> 00:06:01,680 T would affect an everyday shopping receipt if approved by voters. Groceries 72 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:08,319 like grapes and apple juice remain taxfree on both receipts. While taxable 73 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:13,919 items totaling $100 see a half cent local tax adjustment 74 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:20,080 on this $100 purchase of taxable goods, measure T would add 50. 75 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:26,080 In other words, on a $20 restaurant bill, if Measure T passes, it adds 10 76 00:06:23,199 --> 00:06:30,960 cents. Residents can also visit the city's website to use the interactive 77 00:06:28,639 --> 00:06:36,000 measure t budget calculator to estimate how the half have sent adjustment could 78 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:42,080 affect individual purchases or monthly spending if it is passed by voters. 79 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:46,479 Now let's examine how every sales tax dollar spent in El Central is currently 80 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:52,639 split versus how it would look if measure T passes. 81 00:06:50,319 --> 00:07:00,400 This is the current breakdown. For every dollar you spend, you are taxed 8.25 82 00:06:55,919 --> 00:07:05,919 cents. The state receives 6 cents. The county receives 75 cents. And this 83 00:07:03,919 --> 00:07:11,919 includes regional transportation district taxes. The city of O Central 84 00:07:09,039 --> 00:07:17,840 receives 1.5 cents and this includes the base rate and measure P capital tax. 85 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:22,240 To the right of the slide is the proposed breakdown if measure T is 86 00:07:19,919 --> 00:07:29,599 approved by voters where you would be taxed 8.75 cents for every dollar spent. 87 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:37,120 The state share remains 6 cents. The county share remains 75 cents. The city 88 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:41,440 of O central share increases to 2 cents. The entire additional half cent goes 89 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:46,000 directly to the El Centro's general fund. 90 00:07:44,319 --> 00:07:50,800 Central residents will have the opportunity to vote on measure T on the 91 00:07:48,319 --> 00:07:55,440 November ballot. Residents are encouraged to review complete background 92 00:07:53,360 --> 00:08:01,280 information and materials on the official city of O Central measure T 93 00:07:58,479 --> 00:08:07,280 information page. That concludes our presentation and we 94 00:08:03,919 --> 00:08:12,240 will now be moving into our Q&A session. To ask a question, click the Q&A icon on 95 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:17,919 your control bar. Type your question into the text field and click send. Now, 96 00:08:15,599 --> 00:08:25,520 Valerie Nades is here to join me to help me moderate the Q&A session. 97 00:08:22,479 --> 00:08:32,280 » Hi, Mario. Thank you. All right, as Mario mentioned, please drop your 98 00:08:27,199 --> 00:08:32,280 questions into that Q&A box. 99 00:08:32,479 --> 00:08:39,839 And while we have uh people dropping questions in, why don't we move over 100 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:46,720 into some frequently asked questions um that we have seen. So let's go into the 101 00:08:43,279 --> 00:08:50,680 first one. If measure T were to pass, how much will it cost? 102 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:58,240 » A half cent per dollar increase would equate to 10 cents on a $20 meal. 103 00:08:56,560 --> 00:09:04,160 Essential items like groceries, prescriptions, and rent are exempt. 104 00:09:02,399 --> 00:09:08,959 Thank you. I have another question, Mario. If approved, what would the funds 105 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:13,760 be used for? >> The funds would be used for essential 106 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:19,360 general services like repairing roads, maintaining 911, police, and fire 107 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:24,600 response, keeping parks clean, and supporting youth senior library 108 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,600 programs. 109 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:31,600 Right. >> And then, how is proper spending ensured 110 00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:36,240 if measure T were to pass? That would be done with the mandatory 111 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:41,600 annual independent financial audits, public spending reports, and legal 112 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:44,600 requirements that 100% of funds stay local. 113 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:53,680 » Thank you. All right. Please drop any questions you may have 114 00:09:50,959 --> 00:09:58,000 in the Q&A box. I'm going to move over uh to another question, Mario, here that 115 00:09:55,519 --> 00:10:03,680 I have seen frequently asked is why is the city proposing this measure? 116 00:10:01,519 --> 00:10:08,480 The cost of providing basic municipal services continues to increase. 117 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:13,680 Simultaneously, the city's primary ongoing funding source, sales tax, is 118 00:10:11,519 --> 00:10:19,120 projected to level out and projected to dip slightly. While the city holds 119 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:24,079 emergency reserve funds, these savings are not intended to pay for daily 120 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:30,480 operational costs such as keeping fire stations fully staffed or maintaining uh 121 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:34,200 routine police patrols. Thank you. Thank you. 122 00:10:36,079 --> 00:10:45,120 Any questions that anyone wants to ask, please drop it into the Q&A box. We'll 123 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:51,360 give it about another minute um to allow for questions to come in. 124 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:55,760 And Mario, I know you already went over this, but we did have some uh a couple 125 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:59,360 people join during this time. So, can you just briefly explain again what is 126 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:04,000 measure T? >> Of course, Valerie. Measure T is a 127 00:11:01,680 --> 00:11:09,839 proposed halfcentent sales tax increase placed on the November 3rd, 2026 general 128 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:15,200 election ballot by a unanimous vote of the city council. If approved by the 129 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:20,480 voters, it is projected to generate approximately 8.4 million annually, 130 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:23,480 which could help fund essential city services. 131 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:34,560 Fantastic. Thank you. All righty. Well, I'm not seeing any 132 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:40,279 questions into this Q&A box here. So, I think that will 133 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:49,920 uh any questions you may have, please drop it into the Q&A box 134 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:56,760 at the bottom. So, we won't be doing the raise hand motion, but we will be taking 135 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:56,760 questions in the Q&A box. 136 00:12:17,680 --> 00:12:26,480 If you need help finding your Q&A box, it is going to be at the bottom of your 137 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:32,839 screen with the chat and Q&A next to it, next to the option of leave 138 00:12:29,839 --> 00:12:32,839 there. 139 00:12:45,839 --> 00:12:52,880 Okay, Mario, I am not seeing any questions coming in through the Q&A box 140 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:56,480 here. So, um I think we can wrap this up. 141 00:12:54,720 --> 00:13:00,959 » Thank you, Valerie. And thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for taking the 142 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:05,040 time to join us for this presentation. Before we conclude, I'd like to remind 143 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:11,120 everyone that this presentation will be available on the city of O Centro's 144 00:13:06,959 --> 00:13:15,920 YouTube page and official website, www.c cityofo central.org. 145 00:13:13,839 --> 00:13:20,320 Additional information on our budget can also be found on our website. If you 146 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:26,480 have any further questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact us 147 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:30,720 at public info at cityof central.org. We also encourage you to follow the city 148 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:35,279 of Central on social media for future updates and information. Thank you again 149 00:13:33,519 --> 00:13:38,720 for watching and we hope you have a great rest of your day.