In the November 5 election, Mill Valley residents will be asked to increase their sales tax by another percentage point.
Measure L would increase the 8.25% tax rate to support city services, facility maintenance and public safety. The measure was supported by the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Marin Association of Realtors and the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers.
“As a Chamber of Commerce, we do not take a sales tax increase lightly,” wrote Stacey Lamirand, board chair of the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, in a letter supporting the measure. “However, it is important to note that the City of Mill Valley’s sales tax is 8.250%, which is on par with five municipalities in Marin and lower than six other municipalities in Marin.”
“Mill Valley’s business community will benefit significantly from the tax measure and the planned investments in our community,” the letter continues. “You have our full support.”
The city needs to raise $150 million to $180 million over the next 10 to 15 years for infrastructure improvements. The current tax rate generates about $3.6 million in revenue annually, according to the city. The tax increase would bring in another $4.2 million.
Mimi Willard, founder and chair of the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, said her organization supports the tax because the city has demonstrated a need for it, because it meets the group’s requirements for a sensible timeline and because it is tied to specific projects.
“They sought a tax that was as fair as they could get public support for,” Willard said. “And perhaps most importantly, the City Council and the City Manager are extremely responsible and can be trusted to spend the money efficiently and on the priorities they promised. We hope Mill Valley will serve as a model for other cities and agencies in Marin.”
The measure was also supported by ten former mayors who still live in the city, said Mayor Urban Carmel. Several city commissions, including those for parks and recreation and emergency preparedness, have signed letters of support. There are no formal dissenting voices.
Carmel said he was cautiously optimistic about the measure’s passage. He said people are tax-weary, and although previous polls showed 60 percent of citizens surveyed supported the measure, well above the 50 percent needed for passage, he said he couldn’t be too sure.
“That means it should pass, but getting tax measures passed is difficult,” Carmel said. “We’re trying to be cautious. We’re raising the tax as little as possible.”
Carmel said voters can only approve the tax increase through trust within the community. He said the city has a long tradition of financial prudence and infrastructure management.
“We have put in place a number of safeguards that we believe are really important in building trust in the community,” he said.
The city council ordered that sales tax revenues be spent only on essential infrastructure improvements, such as wildfire prevention, landslide prevention, evacuation and emergency preparedness, and maintenance of roads, sidewalks, sewers and facilities.
An independent committee would oversee spending and financial audits would be required. The tax would expire in 10 years.
“Those are the things that really need to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of the community,” Carmel said. “Those are our two goals.”
