BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The City of McFarland is considering enacting a 1% raise on sales tax in order to generate more than $1 million additional dollars per year.

Measure C would increase the city’s sales tax from 8.25% to 9.25%.

If passed by voters, the extra dollars would go to road resurfacing and other city projects, says City Manager Diego Viramontes.

“In the past few years, we’ve addressed several street road reconstructions throughout the city. The past two years, specifically, we’ve addressed 15 streets, and we want to just continue that progress, and this 1% sales tax will allow us to do so,” said Viramontes.

The additional funds would also bolster city police and emergency response capabilities, which have been dwarfed by small facilities and limited resources.

“We do have rising costs and public safety, specifically when it comes to the fire services contract, as well as our police officers, where we no longer can compete financially with other agencies to offer these officers competitive wage. So this measure would also help with retention and recruitment efforts, in terms of keeping our police force as strong as it is,” Viramontes added.

This new revenue would also expand public services, like this community swimming pool, which has been dry as a bone for nearly seven years.

McFarland has a population of 14,365 as of 2024.

5,124, or roughly one third, of those citizens are active registered voters.

State Senator Melissa Hurtado says this vote is on their shoulders, which requires a simple majority to pass.

“Especially in this economic time, it’s it’s not an easy decision, but it’s something that they’ll have to weigh on whether they want to be a little bit more secure, with these additional funds. But I would say that investment in our communities is always good,” Hurtado said.

This 9.25% sales tax would apply to all purchases in the City of McFarland.

For example, a used car selling for $30,000 would have a $2,775 sales tax attached, roughly $500 more than if sold today.

Other cities in the county, like Bakersfield, Wasco, and Delano still have a sales tax of 8.25%. The only other city in Kern County with a higher sales tax is Ridgecrest, which is also set at 9.25%.

This means McFarland residents could shop elsewhere for slightly lower prices.

The decision will be voted on Nov. 4th, listed on the ballot in McFarland alongside Proposition 50.

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