About a dozen members and friends of the Pacific Grove Progressives were crowded around a couple of tables sharing pizzas and sipping craft beers at Hops & Fog Brewery on the evening of Tuesday, June 2 in downtown P.G., in part to reward themselves after weeks of campaigning in support of Measure C, a proposal to increase compensation of city councilmembers. They had also hoped for a celebration but it was not to be: The early election results based on mail-in votes showed the measure trailing, 2,062 to 1,618.
It was not totally unexpected. Shortly before the results were released the speculation among the group was that the California governor’s race would impact smaller races.
“My sincere hope was that the Democrats were waiting until the last minute,” says John Mothershead, president of the P.G. Progressives, referring to voters statewide holding off until the last minute to see which Democratic gubernatorial candidate was in the lead, to ensure at least one made it into the November runoff. Members theorized that as Democratic ballots are counted, Measure C would have a chance of winning.
The measure needs a majority vote to succeed. If that happens, the monthly compensation for councilmembers would rise from $420 to $987, and from $700 to $1,645 for the mayor.
Two parcel taxes to fund emergency and fire services in South County faced similar negative results election night, with voters possibly souring on paying more taxes in the face of higher gas prices and a weakened economy.
Soledad’s Measure A was losing 614 to 548 as of 9pm. It would impose an annual tax of $233 for single family homes, $174 per unit of multi-family properties. For non-residential properties the tax would be between $99 and $134 based on use, plus $0.07 per square foot.
In Gonzales, Measure B was losing 273 to 247. That measure would charge $349 for single-family properties and $262 per residential unit in multi-family buildings. Non-residential properties will be taxed between $148 and $201 based on use, plus $0.07 per square foot.
A proposed sales tax in Monterey, Measure D, was also behind—2,393 to 2,216, or 52 percent to 48 percent. If it passes, it would raise the city’s sales tax by 0.375 percent, to a total of 9.625 percent. The money would be funneled into the general fund to pay for services that are currently in danger of being cut due to an estimated $12 million budget deficit in the coming fiscal year. The increase could bring in as much as $4.5 million annually.