Vote NO on Measure F: Protect Benicia's Families and Prioritize Fiscal Discipline
In March 2024, Benicia voters approved Measures A and B, which raised sales taxes, generating over $5 million annually to address community needs.
Now, just seven months later, we’re being asked to approve Measure F, yet another tax increase that would make Benicia’s sales tax the highest in Solano County. This is the fifth tax hike measure on our ballot in just two years—Measure R (November 2022), Measures A and B (March 2024), and now Measures F and H (November 2024). It’s simply too much.
As a community, we’ve already shown our willingness to invest in Benicia’s future. However, before we’ve even seen the full impact of Measures A and B, we’re being asked to pay more. Voting “No” on Measure F doesn’t mean you oppose progress—it means you’re feeling overwhelmed by constant tax hikes and need a break from these repeated increases.
The 2024-2025 City of Benicia budget stands at more than $58 million, according to the city’s website. The funds to fix our streets already exist within this budget.
If elected to the city council, I will work with the City Manager and fellow council members to implement a budget policy that reallocates the $4 million promised by Measure F from current revenue sources. We can do this without compromising other essential services by reviewing discretionary funds and identifying savings from the remaining $19 million in the budget after personnel costs.
These funds would come from: $1.5 million from two annual state gas taxes, $1 million from Republic Services’ vehicle impact and franchise fees, $1 million from the $9 million we currently spend on outside services, and $500,000 from the General Fund. City budgets should reflect our community’s priorities, and surveys conducted during the City of Benicia’s campaigns for Measures A & B show that infrastructure, after public safety, ranks as the top concern for Benicia residents.
Also Measure F includes provisions that may not be as straightforward as they seem. For example, it claims funds will go to sidewalks and storm drains, yet by law, property owners are responsible for sidewalk repairs, and storm drains are funded by the city's Water and Wastewater enterprise fund, not through sales tax. Additionally, promises of citizens oversight and the ability to end the tax anytime are not fully detailed in the ballot language.
We all want the best for Benicia. However, constantly raising taxes places a heavier burden on working families, retirees, and small businesses already facing a rising cost of living. It’s time we push for fiscal discipline, smarter management of public funds, and accountability rather than simply defaulting to tax increases.
We can achieve the same goals through zero-based and priority-based budgeting and improved financial oversight. I urge you to vote "No" on Measure F this November, and let’s demand a better approach to meeting Benicia’s needs without overburdening our community.
Vote NO on Measures G and H: Protect Benicia’s Future
As Benicia voters, we have many important decisions to make this election. Measures G and H might appear to be simple solutions to complex problems, but in reality, they open the door to a host of unintended consequences that could alter our community forever.
What are Measure G and Measure H?
Measure G would allow the City of Benicia to restructure from a General Law city to a Charter city. This change is required to pass Measure H, which introduces a new real estate transfer tax. The tax, applied during property sales, would go straight into the City of Benicia’s General Fund with no guarantees that our tax money will be spent on important services for residents.
Vote NO on Measure G: Why Change What’s Working?
Benicia has thrived as a General Law city, even through tough times like economic downturns and the pandemic. So why change what’s already working?
It’s about money. Measure G would open the door to increased taxes and expanded government powers. Once Benicia becomes a charter city, future city councils could expand their powers in ways we might not predict, potentially pushing us down a path of financial instability. Remember, every city in California that has gone bankrupt—San Bernardino, Stockton, and Vallejo—was a charter city.
Becoming a charter city could also drag Benicia into endless local ballot measure fights like those seen in San Francisco, Richmond, and Oakland. As a small city, we already enjoy local control and direct access to our city leaders. We don’t need to complicate that by inviting more political battles and bureaucracy.
Vote NO on Measure H: Unnecessary Financial Burden
If Measure G passes, Measure H will follow, introducing a real estate transfer tax that would create new financial challenges for homeowners and potential buyers.
With a median home sales price of $850,000 in Benicia, the city would impose a $3,400 tax on the sale, either to the buyer or the seller, adding to the already substantial burden of state and federal taxes.
This tax unfairly targets homeowners, particularly seniors who will rely on home equity for retirement and healthcare, as well as young families striving to enter the housing market. It risks pushing homeownership out of reach, forcing more people to look outside of Benicia to live or remain renters.
Unlike property taxes, this transfer tax is non-deductible, further complicating financial planning for homeowners and potential buyers. While the city needs revenue, this tax is not the right solution. It penalizes those who can least afford it and ignores the broader economic impact on our community.
Consider the Broader Impact
While supporters argue that these measures will fund necessary services and infrastructure, we must ask: at what cost? Measures G and H put our city’s future at risk by creating new avenues for taxation and financial burdens. Let's explore balanced solutions that support all Benicians without putting undue pressure on homeowners, seniors, and young families.
Please join me in voting NO on Measures G and H.