Redding's Needs and Ambitions

Redding's city council recently spent $25,000 to find out if local residents would support a half percent sales tax increase for ten years.  When one adds up the definitely, probably, and leaning yes voters, 48 percent of those surveyed were supportive of the increase, with 8 percent undecided and a 4.9 percent margin for error. But remember, it's always easier to support higher taxes in an opinion poll than it is in the voting booth.

Because California government officials can't advocate for a tax increase, Redding's elected officials are going to aggressively "educate" the public on why it should pay more taxes.  The mayor understands the basic problem.

"The survey shows me that you like Redding, you want to improve it but you don't want to pay for it," Mayor John Mathena said. "It's the same story everywhere in the world."

True, but what isn't necessarily the same story everywhere is the ability of elected leaders to spend money wisely.  Let's look at what Redding's leadership feels it needs to pay for versus what it's been recently been spending its money on.

The city's expected funding shortfalls in those four areas total nearly $160 million over the coming decade, Deputy City Manager Randy Bachman told the council. Major needs include 23 police officers, 29 firefighters, a new police headquarters, a ninth fire station, some $42 million in delayed street repairs and $41 million worth of parks, trails and open space purchases, he said.

Library funding needs over the coming decade are unknown, Bachman said.

A quarter-percent sales tax hike would raise about $61 million over a decade, said Bachman. A half-percent tax hike would garner about $123 million.

Like so many communities, Redding can only afford to keep its aged library open for a limited number of hours...but, it's building a new library.  Redding's residents already think highly of the region's natural beauty and recreational opportunities, and Turtle Bay has a strong collection of cultural and recreational facilities (including the Sundial Bridge)...but, the city needs another $41 million in parks, trails, and open space in the near future.

When it comes to the manpower, facilities, and road repairs, those are certainly more understandable.  But, evidently they weren't as important as, for instance, the posh new city hall and its sculpture garden ($24+ million) or the extravagant new sports park ($17 million). 

The surveyor certainly pandered to the city leadership, noting that while at the 66 percent believe that Redding's city government is wasteful and inefficient, such complaints are common throughout the state..."Much of that ire is really meant for state and federal government."  That was a $25,000 well spent.

As for how people are feeling about their pocketbooks...

A lack of high-paying jobs topped the list of Redding's problems named by surveyed residents. Eighty-seven percent of the respondents ranked this issue as either an extremely serious (37 percent), very serious (35 percent) or somewhat serious (15 percent) problem in town. Only 8 percent said the lack of decent wages was not a problem.

...

Astronomical housing costs also ranked high on Redding's list of problems. Eighty-four percent of respondents ranked housing costs as either an extremely serious (32 percent), very serious (28 percent) or somewhat serious (15 percent) problem.

And despite these and other concerns (like the rate of growth), 80 percent of Redding's residents feel the city is a good or excellent place to live.  That's not good for ambition.  So, Redding's leadership has set its citizens up for a tried & true strategy.  The mayor and city council will dangle before the voters some things they particularly want, then claim the only way to get them is the proposed city sales tax.  If the citizens want better police and fire protection and smoother roads, they need to approve the tax (and be incurious about what was funded ahead of them).    

It might work...and then when the tax is about to expire, the leadership could threaten police and firefighter layoffs unless the sales tax is extended or made permanent.  And...well, you get the idea.  Redding's new can-do attitude isn't about efficiency.