Pinole Might Also Poll Residents About Utility Tax

It's apparent that Pinole voters will be asked in November continue a tax that's responsible for 20 percent of the city budget. The next proposed step in getting there is to hire someone to conduct a poll to measure their support.

Much like Hercules, with its plan to place a tax measure on the June ballot, Pinole is looking to increase revenue through taxes.

On Tuesday its city council will look at proposals from three research firms bidding for a contract to call Pinole voters and ask their opinions about extending a utiility users tax that is set to expire at the end of the year.

The tax supplies the city with about $2 million per year. If it is not renewed, city staff have warned, budget cuts would slice through all departments, including police and fire services.

A report written by Pinole Assistant City Manager Michelle Fitzer said that "conducting a community survey is necessary to identify community perspectives, budgeting priorities, and opinions on local revenue generating feasibility." The full report is included in the attachment to this article.

The report recommends that the council approve a $23,000 contract to conduct the phone poll. The proposed contract would allow polling of 400 people in 20-minute interviews to determine the level of support for city taxes and city services.

The funding for the consultant would come from the city clerk department budget, which had provided for the possibility of a 2011 election to extend the tax. The council voted not to place the issue on the ballot last year, so the funds carried over to this year's budget.

The current tax rate is an 8 percent surcharge on PG&E and telephone bills. If the council places a measure on the November ballot, the rate and duration of the tax would need to be determined.

In 2010 to extend the tax. That measure also would have added the tax onto water bills.

The council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m.Tuesday at City Hall, 2131 Pear St. The meeting will be televised live on Pinole TV Channel 26 and streamed live on the city's Web page.

What do you think about the potential extension of the city's utility user tax?