The Lompoc City Council will hold a special meeting Thursday to discuss whether to add a ballot measure for the March 2020 election increasing sales tax by 1 percent within the city .
Thursday’s meeting will include discussion and possible direction on special or general sales tax options for the March 2020 ballot, as well as a presentation on the city’s unfunded accrued liability with the California Public Employees Retirement System.
The proposed 1 percent sales tax increase would expire in 15 years, according to a staff report. The city’s current sales tax is 7.75 percent.
On June 24, the council voted 5-0 to have city staff prepare a report with an estimate on the costs for placing a sales tax increase on a future ballot and the estimated savings to the city for citywide 10-, 12- and 15-year payments of the CalPERS unfunded actuarial liability, according to a staff report.
During that same meeting, the council voted 4-1 to adopt a 2019-2021 biennial budget that eliminates several city positions. The adopted budget did not include any projections from a potential sales tax increase.
Lompoc Mayor Janelle Osborne was the lone no vote for the budget.
Some of the staffing cuts included in the budget, which took effect July 1, are the removal of a battalion chief from the Lompoc City Fire Department; a water resource engineer from the utilities department; and five full-time and one part-time positions in the community development division.
Thursday’s meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers, 100 Civic Center Plaza.
“Input from the community regarding these items will be welcome during public discussions,” Samantha Scroggin, community relations manager for the city, said in a news release.
The special meeting will be broadcast live via TAP P.V. on public access channel 23, on the radio in Lompoc at 100.9 FM, and on the city’s website, www.cityoflompoc.com.
