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A taxing effort
The Milpitas City Council on Aug. 3 unanimously approved placing a measure on the Nov. 3 ballot to update the city’s business tax structure
Under the current 50-year-old tax structure, some smaller businesses pay over 70 times more per employee than what larger businesses and corporations pay. The measure is designed to address this disparity and ensure that large businesses contribute more than smaller businesses to fund essential city services
If approved by voters, all businesses would pay an annual flat rate, while larger businesses with more than $700,000 in annual gross receipts would also pay between 0.025% and 0.035% (25 to 35 cents per $1,000) on that amount
“The proposed measure was placed on the ballot following a six-month engagement effort with Milpitas business owners and stakeholders, as well as more than 700 residents,” said City Manager Willie Hopkins in a release. “The city needs additional local funding to help clean up and prevent illegal dumping/neighborhood blight, and address homelessness by helping move people off the street and into shelter, treatment and supportive services.”
Funds from the updated business tax would also go toward replacing aging water and sewer lines, repairing storm drains and keeping neighborhood streets and sidewalks clean and well maintained
To read the full local funding measure resolution, visit https://milpitas.info/CertReso
Oversight opening
The Milpitas Unified School District’s Citizen Bond Oversight Committee is accepting applications for an open community member seat
The state-mandated committee is made up of local residents and oversees the approximately $284 million in school facilities bonds approved by voters in November 2018. The committee meets quarterly to review the progress of the bond construction and spending. Future meetings will include site visits to see finished projects
For more information and to apply, visit https://www.musd.org/152536_3
