16 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA-- Increasing taxes in order to fight gang violence is not a new concept, and Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo hopes it is one that both council members and the public will embrace this November.
The county proposed a tax to raise money to fight gangs in May, but it was pulled for lack of support. Fargo says gang violence is more prevalent in the city of Sacramento than the county so she took the county's gang tax proposal and modified it for the city's needs.
"We're looking at between 50 and 60 new people in the police department focusing on eliminating gang activity, responding to gang activity and helping us to intervene," said Fargo.
It will take six city council member votes to put the gang tax onto the November 4 ballot for a public vote. The mayor believes reducing the duration of the tax from 30 years down to 15 and setting up a review committee to determine if the $16 million a year the tax would raise is indeed being spent properly will sway enough council members and voters to say yes.
Fargo said, "What we're looking for is a reduction in youth violence, We're looking for an increase in both high school graduation rates and kids going on to success in life, and we're looking at seeing a reduction in crime."
A projected $9.6 million raised by the gang tax would go to prevention and intervention programs. Another $5.5 million would be used to hire additional police staff. Council members will vote Tuesday.
News10/KTV
