Lompoc voters will decide June 2 whether to approve a half-percent sales tax increase to fund street repairs and maintenance.
Measure B would temporarily boost the city’s transaction and use tax rate from 8.75% to 9.25% for 15 years. It is estimated to generate about $3.75 million annually. Also known as the Lompoc Street Repair and Maintenance Measure, it would legally restrict revenue to be used for maintaining, repairing and rehabilitating existing Lompoc streets, roads, alleys and related infrastructure.
Because Measure B is a special tax, it would need approval from two-thirds of voters to pass. If approved, the election results would first need to be certified by Santa Barbara County before being sent to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Lompoc community relations manager Emily Prueitt said the tax could become operative as early as October or as late as January, depending on the timeline for those steps.
Ballot materials posted on the city’s website include an argument in favor of Measure B, an argument against the measure and an impartial analysis from City Attorney Jeff Malawy.
The argument in favor, signed by Mayor James Mosby, says the measure would collect money from “all the people who use, shop and drive in the city of Lompoc, not just the residents of the city.” It estimates that nearly 50% of the money collected would come from consumers who live outside the city limits.
The argument against Measure B, written by Councilman Jeremy Ball, says the city’s streets “desperately need work,” but argues that locking the funds away for more than a decade means the city “cannot pivot” if it faces a recession or public safety emergency.
The impartial analysis says Measure B would require an independent annual audit and annual reporting to the City Council on revenues, expenditures and the status of authorized projects. The City Council would serve as the oversight committee in public meetings subject to the Brown Act.
County elections officials will begin mailing ballots to voters on or before May 4. The last day to register to vote for the June election is May 18. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 2.
