Santee considering up to a one-cent sales tax measure

Santee is considering placing an up to one-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot to fund infrastructure improvements and emergency services.

While no official decisions have been made yet, the city began exploring the option last August when it hired consultant TeamCivX in August to research the community’s appetite for a half-cent sales tax measure and to conduct a feasibility study.

“We have to do something because the people that live in our community deserve better streets,” Mayor John Minto said. “The people in our community deserve having firefighters that can get there in a reasonable amount of time to save lives and property.”

A little over a year has passed since Santee residents rejected Measure S, a citizen-led initiative that would have enacted a half-cent sales tax for 15 years to fund fire protection and emergency services.

Santee residents narrowly defeated the measure, with 52% of voters opposed.

The city’s proposal would not be aimed solely at funding emergency services. Officials are considering a variety of uses for the tax revenue — including expanding fire protection and emergency services, but also improving roads, maintaining parks, and more.

During a recent council meeting, officials received a report from True North Research, a firm hired by TeamCivX, on a survey to gauge support for...