Sebastopol considers added taxes for city services

<p>Sebastopol city officials will continue to explore a possible tax measure on electricity, natural gas, telephone and cable television service.</p><p>The City Council took no formal action Tuesday night but directed a city committee to continue its analysis, specifically by gauging public sentiment and by further defining the possible ballot language.</p><p>Tuesday’s meeting provided “an opening discussion on the idea,” said city Finance Director Ron Puccinelli.</p><p>The city will seek to conduct some sort of poll or survey of city voters, he said.</p><p>The city Revenue Enhancement Committee has recommended that the council continue working toward a November ballot measure for a “utility users tax” of 3 to 4 percent. The city projects a deficit of up to $200,000 in the street maintenance budget this year and will be forced to reduce service in some departments unless it finds another source of revenue, officials said.</p><p>The committee is expected to report back to the council by May, Puccinelli said.</p>