Pete Mitracos supports Measure E

By Pete Mitracos

Unfortunately Tracy is faced with budget deficits. I will work to balance the budget so that a sales tax subsidy will not be need after Measure E's sunset in 2015.

My first reaction to the proposed one-half percent sales tax increase (Measure E) in Tracy was "You've got to be kidding!" We are still in the midst of the worst financial crisis in decades. San Joaquin County has an unemployment rate of 17 per cent and thousands of homes have been lost to foreclosure. There doesn't seem to be an end to the financial turmoil we are suffering + at least not in the near future.

In addition, with a reserve of over $20,000,000 Tracy has enough money to bridge the current annual shortfall of about $5,000,000 for at least a couple of years. It seemed to me that increased revenues would dampen the urgency of reducing expenditures to balance our budget to a sustainable level.

Since first hearing about Measure E, I talked with Tracy's City Manager, the Finance Director, and the Treasurer. I have changed my position. I now support Measure E.

I can support Measure E for the following reasons:
1. The City has made significant cuts to the budget. The City has cut fat and is now at the point of cutting into muscle (difficult and expensive to replace).
2. With 80% of the General Fund spent on fire and police services, the next significant cuts must be in these departments. Public safety personnel will be faced with either a rapid reduction in wages and benefits or layoffs. In other communities, when given the choice, bargaining units typically choose layoffs over wage and benefit cuts. It is highly likely that we will have less public safety staff.
3. City employees in all departments have stepped up and agreed to either reduce wages, not take contractual pay increases, or trim employee benefits + or some combination of these.
4. A one-half percent sales tax will allow the City to achieve a balanced budget over the next five years without reducing fire and police services.
5. Measure E will allow an orderly, responsible move toward a balanced budget.

I will support a one-half percent sales tax with a five-year sunset. If elected I will make it my responsibility to work toward a balanced budget without the sales tax "subsidy". I will not support another sales tax measure to continue Measure E past the five-year sunset. Five years is enough.

Sincerely,

Pete Mitracos