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Council authorizes a scientific poll to test support for a proposed public-safety tax
Summary
After extended debate about prior failures and costs, the council unanimously authorized staff to hire a consultant and conduct a scientific survey (up to the manager's procurement limit) to test support for a 1% transaction-and-use tax or a special tax for public safety, with results to be returned to council for direction.
Grand Terrace'After a lengthy debate about strategy and prior election results, the Grand Terrace City Council on May 26 authorized staff to conduct a scientific public poll to gauge support for a proposed local sales-tax measure aimed at funding public-safety services.
Background: staff explained a 1% transaction-and-use tax could raise roughly $1 million annually and that prior measures failed narrowly; a general tax (50% plus one) has different legal implications than a special tax (two-thirds required unless citizen-initiated). Council members discussed the absence of prior polling, the likely cost of a campaign, nearby organized opposition in a neighboring jurisdiction, and the need for an effective public-education effort before placing a measure on a ballot.
Motion and direction: Council Member Brown moved and the council approved directing the City Manager to procure a reputable, scientific survey to test support for a general versus a special tax and to return with results and recommendations. Council authorized staff to select a survey vendor and proceed under the city manager's procurement authority within the manager's expenditure limit (members discussed a cap in the $20,000'$25,000 range). The motion passed unanimously.
Council members said they preferred polling before committing to ballot materials or a consultant-led outreach campaign; several members urged that polling include questions on general-tax versus special-tax framing and open-ended responses about priorities for spending.
Next steps: staff will return with a contract and poll results at a future meeting. If the poll shows feasible support, the council may then direct preparation of election resolutions, ordinances and ballot materials and coordinate with the County Elections Office on schedule and deadlines.
