Merced voters to decide whether to extend public safety tax. Issue qualifies for March ballot
Supporters of Measure C have collected enough verified signatures to ask Merced voters whether the tax should be extended for another 20 years.
PHOTO: Merced City Hall is shown. PHOTO BY VICTOR PATTON/CVJC
By VICTOR PATTON
The future of Measure C, a half-cent public safety tax that benefits Merced’s police and fire departments, will be in voters’ hands in 2024.
Supporters of the measure have collected ample signatures to ask Merced voters in March whether the tax should be extended for another 20 years.
A Friday afternoon email from Merced County Registrar of Voters Melvin Levey to Merced city officials confirmed Measure C’s supporters did successfully reach the threshold of 3,988 valid signatures to put the issue on the March ballot.
Without an extension, the measure would sunset in 2026. It first was approved in 2006 with a 20-year lifespan.
A group of citizens called “The Committee for a Safer Merced” led by former Merced Mayor Mike Murphy spearheaded a signature-gathering campaign in hopes of renewing the tax.
Murphy’s group formed after the Merced City Council last year blocked the tax renewal from appearing on the November 2022 ballot. “We know the overwhelming majority (of voters) in Merced want a fully-funded police department and fire department,” Murphy told CVJC.
Since 2006, Measure C has generated $105 million. It’s expected to generate $8.8 million this fiscal year. Without the half-cent tax, city officials estimate Merced could face a $7 million annual budget shortfall and lose stable funding for the police and fire departments.
In order to pass, Measure C must receive a simple majority of votes in favor of renewal.
The committee received strong backing from the city’s police and fire unions, along with many in the business community, Murphy said.
Murphy expects the committee will grow between now and March to include more volunteers who will continue spreading the word about Measure C. “This is going to be a full campaign to make sure residents understand the choices before them in March,” he said.
The only difference between the current iteration of Measure C versus the 2024 ballot version is the latest measure will be a special tax, meaning it can only be used for public safety and some road maintenance.
The current version of the measure is a general tax, meaning it can be used for any city expenditure.
Murphy said his group looked at how money was generally allocated under Measure C since its passage, and 95% went to public safety and 5% went to roads. He expects those percentages would remain the same if Measure C is extended.
Victor Patton is the engagement editor for the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, a nonprofit newsroom based in Merced.
Total BullSh!t!!! Measure C hasn't done a damn thing to help Merced over its 20 year life. High crime, homelessness, Gangs!!! This TAX was supposed to put two officers in every car, help fix our roads. At least that was what we were told the first time, they even had Officers Gray's widow ram this down everyone throat then! So go ahead and believe the BS these people cram down your throat this time, be a SUCKER!!! HELL NO on Measure C!!! TAXES that won't do a damn thing for crime or roads!!! But I'm sure it will pass because people have been dumb down so much, they will believe every lie told to them!!!!