The Williams City Council last week joined officials in Colusa and Colusa County in asking voters to increase sales taxes when they cast their Nov. 8 ballot.
All three entries will have a measure in the next election. Colusa County and Williams are asking for a half-cent increase; Colusa is asking for 1 cent.
“Depending on where you live within Colusa County, you will see anywhere from a half cent to a 1.5 cent,” said Williams City Administrator Frank Kennedy.
If all three measures pass, Colusa and Williams will each collect 8.25 percent on the purchase of all taxable goods; the unincorporated area of Colusa County will collect 7.75 percent.
The Williams City Council first approved the tax measure at their regular meeting on July 20; however, following the 3-0 vote with two members absent, the council realized that a tax initiative of any kind requires at least four members to pass.
Like Colusa, Williams officials said the city is facing a critical need for revenue for infrastructure and other general fund needs.
Street conditions are apparent when driving through the city, officials said. A Pavement Condition Study performed in 2012 identified deficiencies in city streets currently estimated at over $25 million, which greatly outweigh the City’s revenues.
While disappointed that the last measure to increase sales taxes failed, officials recognized that they did not sufficiently inform the public as to its need.
In addition to street improvements, the street drainage system, curb and gutters, and city-owned sidewalks require maintenance and improvements, and aging city facilities, including City Hall require repair and renovation.
Unlike Colusa County’s request for a special tax for ambulance services, which will require a 66.6 percent approval for passage, the Williams tax requires just 50 percent (plus one vote) to pass.
Kennedy said if the measure passes, the city will collect about $750,000 in additional revenue, mostly from travelers on I-5 who use city streets and services when they come through town.
Kennedy approximates that Williams residents only spend about $4,000 a year on taxable goods, which would only bring in about $28,000 of the $750,000 expected. “We have often theorized we are going to be able to improve the city and the city’s position on the backs of visitors who are coming in and buying gasoline, sandwiches, and taxable goods,” he said.
However, Kennedy cautions would-be naysayers of a measure to consider added costs when they consider whether to pass an increase, because many residents travel to Woodland to shop for general merchandise where tax rates have long been higher than Williams.
“I don’t think the average citizen would even look at the tax rate before they go there to make their clothing purchase or hardware purchases,” Kennedy said. “Sales taxes are generally not a deciding factor about where people shop.”
Unlike 2020, when the City Council placed a similar measure before voters, City officials said they plan to stand united in convincing voters that Williams needs an additional source of revenue to make real improvements to the city that residents will actually see – and to prevent infrastructure from deteriorating further.
“The last time, I wasn’t really into spending more,” said Mayor Roberto Mendoza. “But now that I see all the work we are going to do and are doing, I think it’s not going to cost me that much out of my pocket every year to pay for things. I agree that we need to do it.”
Placing the general tax measure on the Nov 8 ballot will cost the city approximately $7,000 to $11,000 in fees.
Williams residents will also vote for three members of the City Council, along with the county tax measure and a handful of state initiatives, including an initiative allocating more from the state general fund to support music and art education in public schools. ■