The already long odds for supporters of a San Juan Bautista sales tax hike just quadrupled.
Elections workers are about "75 percent" done with a canvass to Measure U - San Juan's proposed half-cent tax hike - and the result hasn't changed, elections official Kim Hawk said Monday.
Measure U faces a one-vote deficit - 212 in favor of rejecting it, 211 in support. That likely result to the ballot measure comes after an election night lead of seven votes in favor of approving the increase from 8 percent to 8.5 percent.
Hawk said all the results canvassed so far have been consistent with numbers from the June 3 election. She expects workers to finish the certification process this week.
"We still have to finish up," Hawk said. "So far, nothing has changed."
With council members and recently fired City Manager Jan McClintock unable to stem San Juan's financial collapse, the range of cuts have affected every level of services and most notably resulted in the cutting of a fire chief and sheriff's deputy and reduced library hours. San Juan officials also recently closed the city's sheriff's office branch, and citizens now must rely on one deputy stationed in Hollister to respond to problems there.
The money from Measure U would be added to the city's general fund, and a committee would be formed to determine how to spend the added cash.. Police, fire, and community services departments, along with extended library hours, have been discussed as possible areas to benefit from Measure U funds.
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