Fiscal Responsibility in Arcata for Council Members and City of Arcata Staff.

Many folks are concerned about the proposed increases of sales tax in Arcata as well as Humboldt County and are expressing that local government agencies lack the ability to budget and spend existing funds wisely. Why should folks vote to increase sales taxation rates?

— Chris Richards

Responses

Alex Stillman

We had many years of Covid funding and the City used it wisely to make Arcata better. For example: Ambassadors in the downtown which I would like to see happen in Valley West. Maintenance is so important. The City gets grants for projects but there is no funds for maintenance. The sales tax dollars can be used to replace worn out playground materials, signage, striping of streets, transit, and the list goes on and on. Most importantly, is that the City and its oversight committee will continue to manage all funding very carefully. Please support Measure H.

Gregory Daggett

Many people here in Arcata are hurting now, and I do not think this is a good time to raise taxes on businesses that are struggling. Our City Council voted for a $52,000.00 cross-walk paint job, banners, and hired a Bay Area Firm for 50,000.00 to ask you if you would like to be taxed for measure H. The City of Arcata has a 31 million dollar pension liability, and money from your increase in water and sewage bills, 5 million, is being used to pay for some of this pension debt. The Waste Water Treatment Plant Phase I went from 53 million to 67 million, and when you ask for detains on projects, the answer sometimes can be…” Why are you asking, this is free money from the State and Federal Government. Transparency is at the heart of Democracy.

Stacy Atkins-Salazar

Asking for a tax increase was not taken lightly. We are asking for an increase in sales tax, not because we are in bad shape financially, but because we have heard from the people of Arcata that they would like us to continue to offer services that are hard to find funding for, like mental health response to crisis, services addressing homelessness and it’s impacts, and our Community Ambassadors. For the past few years we have been able to fund these programs using ARPA funds (money given to governments during Covid) but those funds have run out. We have a brilliant Finance Director, a fiscally conservative Council, and a community of people with high standards. Unfortunately, sales tax is one of the only tools that city’s have to pay for unfunded/underfunded programs, so that is what we have to work with. Please support Measure H.

Sarah Schaefer

People in Arcata have gotten used to a certain level of services and programs. ARPA money from the COVID pandemic allowed the council to fund great programs such as the Community Ambassadors and the Safe Parking program. With the rates of inflation we are facing everything costs more- from paying our employees to construction costs to gas and office materials. Measure H will help add funds to the City budget that can support programs and services that the people of Arcata want to see continued and expanded.

Dana Quillman

I don’t support a sales tax increase at this time.

Genevieve Serna

Thank you for this question.

Over the last few years our city was able to enjoy the formation of many amazing programs from our Community Ambassadors to Safe Parking Programs and Mental Health Crisis Responses. Unfortunately the funding that we were able to create these programs with, the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Fund, is quickly coming to an end. After taking in how much these programs were valued by residents and how deeply they wanted them to continue, the current sitting council placed Measure H on the ballot.

While each person has their own perspective on tax increases, I support Measure H because I would love to see these programs continue to serve our city.

Chris Richards asks Alex Stillman, Stacy Atkins-Salazar, Sarah Schaefer, Gregory Daggett, Genevieve Serna, Dana Quillman, Shea Freedomhowler…