I would be in favor of a sales tax and TOT increase as this put the majority of the burden on tourist dollars. I would not support an increase to property taxes due to our high housing cost in SLO. Funds should be allocated to projects that are ranked on quality of service for all users, environmental mitigation, and potential to generate future revenue. I would also like to know what sort of grants and funding support we would qualify for if we become a self help community by allocating fund as part of a sales tax increase.

My vote will against bond measure G.
Sales taxes are too high already.
Property taxes are too high already.
Do you have any wonder why families and businesses are leaving California in droves?
Live like the citizens, and don’t spend what you don’t have.

I regret that Measure J failed. I appreciate that work needs to be done and wish to see that happen. If another sales-tax based revenue mechanism needs to be created, I would vote for it.

I would like to know more about this proposal before I could support it or reject it. It is very early in the process. A couple of thoughts
1. If the money is being used for more bike lanes the city council needs to do a better job of working with the neighborhoods. The Broad Street bike way issue was very controversial and has turned people off to what should be a good thing for the city.
2. It must be demonstrated that the money raised by this tax would not just supplant other monies used by the city for these purposes.
3. A long time high priority for the residents of the city of slo has been the acquisition of open space. I would suggest that this be a high priority for the spending of this money. But it must be real and not just lip service for more open space. The residents of SLO have consistently picked open space acquisition as a high priority but the money gets spent on roads, bikelanes and public safety.
4. Since it is so early in the process I am not sure what this money can be spent on. I would love to see the city start a legal challenge to the state in regards to the housing mandates the state is putting on the city. Or if possible use some of the money to revise the general plan so that the city council can have as much discretion as possible when it comes to the approval of projects in the city.
5. Non of this money should be used to stimulate and provide for additional growth in the city. New growth must pay to mitigate all of their impacts to a level of insignificance and if they cannot the city should not cover any of those costs and projects should be denied.
6. Use this money for neighborhood wellness. Foster a positive relationship between the city and the neighborhoods. Respect neighborhood input. 22 Chorro and Palomar are two examples where the neighborhoods have not been respected.

I applaud the efforts of our Mayor and Council, City staff, and community members for having the foresight to delve into this important topic. The maintenance and upgrading of our community is vital in so many ways. One of the most important in my mind is maintaining a high degree of attractiveness in San Luis Obispo. To keep up the high level of visitors, ( and the visitor's wallets ), and to help lure the skilled workforce our local industries need. How to fund? I know that with certain factions making development even more expensive can be un-popular, I do think it is a good place to look. Making sure that the developments coming to fruition are paying their fair share of infrastructure improvements is important. Assessment districts could work, and I can't imagine a 1% sales tax increase would cause much heartburn. It would be good to know how SLO compares sale tax wise to other comparable communities, and it is a very good idea to keep the citizenry informed about how the money is spent.

I would also like City to study the efficacy of all our dreamy proposals. As a lover of all things cultural, I'm excited by the prospects of the envisioned "Cultural District". A strong component of community attractiveness, I'm doing what I can to advance that. I can see the need for a new Police Station, it must be, what, 45 years old? Our community has grown a bit in those years. Do we really need a new communication center? I don't think it is even 10 years old. We need to be critical in our priorities.

So I say "do all of the above" in terms of financing our Community and infrastructure needs. Let's keep San Luis Obispo riding on the top edge of the wave!

With recent water / sewer and property tax increases, (not to mention related expenses) I would submit that new development shoulder the costs of infrastructure and that the city SCALE BACK it's plans until there is a sensible plan in place to do so. Mandating a county wide tax hamstrings the populous by overdeveloping & over-promising - but what happens when the exodus begins - (witness Santa Barbara and Ventura) - a sound plan would budget 'needs" & "desires" with practical expenditures and a more cautious approach.

I am completely against a 400 million dollar upgrade because I haven't heard how the county is going to remedy the situation that they came up 10 million dollar short this past year AND when PG&E Diablo Canyon closes, 85 million will not be pouring into our economy anymore!
Having lived in Los Osos since 1983, I am being strangled by tax hikes, sewer fees, sewer pipe improvements, and water rate increases of 195% !
I'm low income and it's going to soon pass a line where I cannot live in the home that I've enjoyed for decades!
Please please please don't force gentrification on this County!

SLO is already famously unaffordable. Landlords will be able to pass any increase in property taxed onto their tenants. The rental housing market is tight; if the current tenant will not tolerate the increased rent, another tenant will. Rather than compound this problem with another tax on residents, consider raising the bed taxes charged to the visitors staying in the hotels.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't raise my taxes. It's getting harder and harder for "us", middle income home owner dual income family small business owner, to be able to afford the SLO life. It just seem so irresponsible to ask "us" to keep funding things we can't afford. Please stop this silliness.

I'm very much in favor of improving bike access, mission plaza and public services like police and fire. After reading the comments you've received thus far, it seems like you're getting some religious pushback on raising taxes. It's a thing, I get it. I don't like my taxes raised either.... but I also understand that projects take money and a citizen like me that wants to ride his bike more and loves the mission and our safe city should be willing to pay a bit more to get those things.

All that said, I think you're going to have to take a multi-faceted approach to this. You can probably raise sales tax a half of a percent and some property taxes marginally, too... but you'll also have to commit to trimming the city budget in places that may require some sacrifice on your part. I have not noticed this myself, but have certainly noted the public perception that the city is fat and happy. You will need to combat that perception in any campaign asking for more funds from your residents.

Oh and don't forget the money you can raise from cannabis. From cultivation to distribution, manufacturing and retail... you'd be crazy not to capitalize on this once in a lifetime opportunity to bring significantly more revenues into the city.