The Turlock City Council received an annual Measure A report on Tuesday, letting the public know exactly where the City is spending the sales tax measure approved by voters in 2020.
The sales tax measure was estimated to provide $11 million in revenue annually to fund City of Turlock services. This past fiscal year, Measure A brought in $13,236,824 to city coffers.
There were eight areas listed in the Measure A ordinance — “protect Turlock’s long-term financial stability, maintain and restore public safety services, rapid 911 emergency and medical response, fire protection, fix streets and potholes, support local businesses, address challenges with homelessness and vagrancy and protect Turlock’s ability to respond to emergencies and natural disasters.”
In 2021, the Council split the Measure A funds into two separate accounts - one for road repairs and maintenance and the other for everything else.
The City Council designated $6,618.412 to roads projects.
Over $1.3 million was transferred to the General Fund Reserve.
The majority of other funds were spent on fire and police salaries and mental well-being services for City staff ($417,994).
Another $250,000 was spent on General Plan implementation and growth.
More than $649,000 was spent on Fire Department salaries and benefits and $204,691 for police salaries and benefits.
“Sales tax in here is only through April because the May sales tax we project receiving at the end of July and the June sales tax at the end of August. So those have not been posted yet,” City Senior Accountant Nadine Correia said when giving the report on Tuesday. “They lag about seven weeks. Most of the expenses are here unless there's any straggling invoices that may have not been paid, but most invoices are already accounted for.”
Chris Nichols represented the Measure A Citizens’ Oversight Committee. He said the committee meets quarterly. The meeting agendas are posted on the City’s website and the general public is invited to attend.
“You guys have done a phenomenal job,” Nichols said to the Council. “I've looked over these numbers quite extensively, and I think you guys are on the right plan.”
