Special tax measure to go before voters in Salinas

A special tax measure aimed at funding public safety to to combat crime in Salinas will go before voters.

The 13,000 signatures needed -have been verified by the Monterey County Elections Office.

The Salinas Committee for Public Safety is the grassroots organization behind the measure. The people in the group aren’t politicians or city leaders, they’re just regular people looking to make a difference.

“The people of Salinas have spoken. They want guaranteed public safety,” said Amit Pandya a local business owner and chairman of the Salinas Committee for Public Safety.

The special 1-cent sales tax measure is expected to bring in $20 million to the city, which will be used only to fund more public safety.

“These crimes, these shootings, they give Salinas a black eye,” said Pandya.

Salinas’ City Councilman Steve McShane has introduced a similar measure that will go before voters next month. Measure G is a general tax supported by the city of Salinas; it too, is a 1-cent sales tax.

“Salinas has a lot of challengers, public safety being one of them… A general tax will allow easier passage,” said McShane.

If Measure G passes, the city said a portion of the money will go to support more police services – and that’s what the sales tax measure introduced by the Salinas Committee for Public Safety will focus solely on.

“That is not a huge price to pay for a permanent peace of mind,” said Pandya.

Now that a special tax has qualified, it’s up to the city clerk and elections department to set up an election.