SAN MARCOS — A structural deficit, budget and staff cuts are leading the city to put forward a one-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot.
The City Council directed staff to bring back ballot language for a one-cent sales tax to place for the November election during last week’s budget workshop, according to Councilman Ed Musgrove. If approved, the tax would raise an estimated $20 million per year, which would put the city’s budget back into the black, he said.
The issue will come back to the council in the next several weeks for formal approval, Musgrove said.
City Manager Michelle Bender said the city’s budget has forced the layoffs of some employees, the elimination of all part-time employees and historical challenges led Bender to go with a zero-based budget approach to address the $10.8 million structural deficit.
