Our View: Is Measure N living up to its campaign promise?
Last month, Bakersfield city officials told the Public Safety Vital Services Measure Oversight Committee that much of the money this year will have to be spent on nondiscretionary things, including personnel expenses and transfers to the city's general fund to cover 'operational needs.' Additional money is being reserved for capital projects, such as $4 million for street improvements along 18th and 19th streets, and $3 million for improvements on H Street.
'We've seen increases in insurance; we've seen increases in workers' compensation; we've seen in vehicle equipment, other equipment and technology,' City Manager Christian Clegg told the committee.
The oversight committee was established as part of Measure N to assure voters that the 1% tax hike would be spent as promised, rather than absorbed into the city's general fund.
The committee is advisory only, with the final spending decisions left to Bakersfield's elected City Council. Committee recommendations, which are developed during public meetings, do not have to be followed by council members.
Committee member Cathy Abernathy responded that she is concerned that Measure N money is being spent on a whole lot of staff that includes obligations to pay for such things as health care and pensions.
Two years ago, when the city realized a large unexpected increase in sales tax money, committee member Abernathy expressed the same concern about the city's proposed surplus spending.
'Let's honor what it was supposed to be about, which is police,' Abernathy said in response to the city's spending proposal that included animal shelter improvements.
'What we wanted to see was what can the money be spent on to make our town safer and to make it a more attractive community for business growth. That's generally neighborhoods, roads, streets, that kind of work, not enhancing animal care,' Abernathy said.
The Public Safety and Vital Services ballot measure that barely passed in 2018 read: "To prevent cuts/improve 911 emergency response, police/fire protection, anti-gang/drug units, neighborhood police patrols; rapid response to assaults, robberies, gang violence, home burglaries; crime prevention; address homelessness; retain, attract jobs/businesses; unrestricted general revenue purposes; shall the measure be adopted approving an ordinance establishing a one-cent sales tax providing $50,000,000 until ended by voters, requiring independent audits, citizens oversight, all funds for Bakersfield?"
Since passage, oversight committee members repeatedly have expressed concern that PSVS dollars were not being used as advertised to voters. Even the Kern County grand jury expressed concerns.
But according to the city, staffing funded by PSVS dollars has included 189 positions in the police department; 27 in the fire department; 46 in development services, including code enforcement and homeless encampment clean up; 21 rangers to provide park security; 22 in technology services; 16 in economic and community development; 13 in public works; 12 in the city manager's office; five in human resources; and two in finance.
The Parks Department ranger force, which is separate from the Police Department, was established in 2023, when the city enjoyed a sales tax surplus. Startup of the program was estimated to cost $1 million, with the predicted annual cost of $2.4 million paid out of Measure N enhanced sales tax revenues.
Today, the city's sales tax revenues have remained either flat or declined across several industries, Bakersfield Finance Director Randy McKeegan told PVSV oversight committee members last month. Bakersfield also is expecting a $6.5 million decrease in sales tax revenues because some county residents were being incorrectly charged the city's higher tax rate for the past two years.
How City Council members ultimately decide to spend these decreasing tax revenues will determine public confidence in and support for the 1% tax hike voters approved in 2018.
Measure N was crafted to avoid 'sunsetting' — a common requirement that voters must approve the continuance of a taxing measure every few years. Instead, Measure N specified it would continue until 'ended by voters.' This leaves Measure N vulnerable to discontented voters, who may conclude that the money is not being spent as advertised.
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