Sebastopol considers added taxes for city services

Sebastopol city officials will continue to explore a possible tax measure on electricity, natural gas, telephone and cable television service.

The City Council took no formal action Tuesday night but directed a city committee to continue its analysis, specifically by gauging public sentiment and by further defining the possible ballot language.

Tuesday’s meeting provided “an opening discussion on the idea,” said city Finance Director Ron Puccinelli.

The city will seek to conduct some sort of poll or survey of city voters, he said.

The city Revenue Enhancement Committee has recommended that the council continue working toward a November ballot measure for a “utility users tax” of 3 to 4 percent. The city projects a deficit of up to $200,000 in the street maintenance budget this year and will be forced to reduce service in some departments unless it finds another source of revenue, officials said.

The committee is expected to report back to the council by May, Puccinelli said.