Candidates urge protecting core services if local option sales tax fails

Forum participants asked candidates how they would respond if the local option sales tax (LOST) ballot measure fails. The answers converged on a general principle: essential services and human-rights–related programs should be protected; capital and discretionary projects would be the likeliest targets for delay or reduction.

Bruce Teague said he hopes the LOST passes but would look first at capital improvement projects (for example street repairs) as places to delay if revenue is short. “Some road projects…will probably be the things that I will look at,” Teague said.

Sean Harmson said he would approach cuts carefully, relying on data and a deliberative process rather than making preemptive decisions. Amy Hospadarski and Megan Alter emphasized that LOST funds should be additive—especially for affordable housing—and should not replace existing general-fund commitments to core priorities or result in staff cuts.

Newman Abu Issa framed LOST as regressive but said expanding the tax base by retaining businesses and commercial activity is also part of the answer. Clara Reinen suggested moving some public-safety funding toward public-health–style initiatives such as bike lanes and housing, if priorities shift.

Candidates stressed that any specific cuts would be decided through the budget process with public input rather than by ad hoc announcements at the forum.