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Consultants: parcel-tax voter research shows high satisfaction but low 'need' understanding
Summary
Clifford Moss consultants told the Monte Sereno council that polling showed residents are satisfied with police services but do not link that satisfaction to a funding gap, and they recommended more education before pursuing a ballot measure.
Clifford Moss consultants Laura Crotty and Bonnie Moss briefed the Monte Sereno City Council on May 18 about their feasibility work and recommended communications strategy.
They reported the city has about 2,827 registered voters in 1,157 households and said polling by True North Research returned a roughly 10% response rate. Consultants said that while resident satisfaction with police services is high, that satisfaction did not translate into support for additional taxation because respondents did not "connect the dots" between service quality and funding shortfalls. As a result, they concluded a parcel tax on the November 2026 ballot was "not feasible."
The consultants outlined a multi-track approach—city due diligence, council engagement, and stakeholder/opinion-leader outreach—starting with feasibility and moving to sustained voter education before any ballot filing. They emphasized repeated, consistent messaging across mail, digital, video and person-to-person outreach, and recommended organizing an independent citizen committee to carry out campaign work during the 88-day election window when the city’s direct political activity is restricted.
"We think you need more time," Bonnie Moss said, urging the council to prioritize education and community engagement before moving to a ballot measure.
