Politics & Government

City Manager Talks Budget, Utility Tax Urgency

Belinda Espinosa outlines cuts that would come if voters don't agree to extend the tax in teh November election.

Pinole City Manager Belinda Espinosa told a gathering of seniors Wednesday that after four years of budget cuts the city will be "in a lot of trouble" if voters don't agree in November to prolong an existing utility tax that is due to expire at the end of the year.

Espinosa took her message on the road — or at least across San Pablo Avenue from city hall to the Pinole Senior Center — to give a summary of the budget situation and the consequences if the tax renewal measure fails.

"If we lose it, we're we're going to be in big trouble," she said.

Find out what's happening in Pinole-Herculeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Espinosa emphasized that in the past four years the city has cut the equivalent of 53 jobs in an attempt to counter losses in property and sales tax revenues and other revenue "takeaways" by state government. Further budget cuts would result in reductions of jobs and services across departments, she said.

The city's $10 million general fund has a reserve fund of only $23, Espinosa said.

Find out what's happening in Pinole-Herculeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The utility tax represents about 20 percent of general fund revenue, she said,  and failure to renew it would mean:

  • slower response times for the police and fire departments
  • elimination of five police officer jobs
  • elimination of two firefighter jobs
  • elimination of an emergency dispatcher job
  • closure of the Pinole Swim Center and Pinole Cable TV
  • no city inspections of rental properties
  • elimination of staff for the Neighborhood Watch program
  • possible closure of city hall to the public for a second day per week
  • reduction of the building inspector position from full time to part time.

Espinosa lamented that state government has continually seized cities' shares of revenue, but she said renewal of the utility tax would keep Pinole's service levels stable.

"This is our local measure, no one can take it away from us," Espinosa said.
"If we lose it we're going to be in a lot of trouble."

Espinosa said that city staff will recommend at the July 17 city council meeting that a Nov. 6 ballot measure retain utility tax at the rate of 8 percent for eight years. The tax currently is added on to gas, electricity, phone and Cable TV bills.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here