Manteca’s municipal leaders Tuesday made it clear — the city will deliver on its Measure Q promises.

And that means more robust police and fire protection, stepped up street maintenance, and other things the city has been unable to do in terms of municipal services and amenities.

“(It) really is going to make the city a better place for all residents,” City Manager Toni Lundgren said.

Lundgren’s remarks came hours after the San Joaquin Registrar of Voters certified the Nov. 5 election results.

Those results that included the Measure Q three-quarter of a cent sales tax’s passage by a 409-vote margin.

The city manager repeated what she repeatedly shared over the course of the past three months — Measure Q alone won’t address all of the community’s needs and wants.

It is why Lundgren made it clear Tuesday the city will work to leverage the 20-year sales tax with:

*continuing its effort to lure more retailers and employment centers to Manteca to strengthen the tax base and local economy.

*making sure all development related fees are current and are at the justifiable maximum under state law to make sure growth pays its way.

*pursuing available federal and state grants Manteca may qualify for.

*continuing the approach to expenditures that proportionately has seen Manteca deliver more bang for the buck than many cities in the region despite having a lower level of per capita revenue to work with.
Lundgren indicated staff — working with the community, the yet-to-be-appointed Measure Q tax oversight committee, and the council — will devise a Measure Q spending plan with, 5, 10, 15 and 20 year benchmarks.

“We will not let our residents down,” Lundgren said.

All five members of the Manteca City Council echoed Lundgren’s comments.

“This council will do the right thing,” Councilman Mike Morowit said.

As such, Morowit said the Measure Q funding will go first and foremost to enhance public safety and upgrade streets.

“Obviously we need the money,” Councilman Charlie Halford said of the temporary 20-year tax.

Halford said Measure Q will address the “unacceptable” 15-minute response time for fire services that some in the rapidly growing southwest portion of the city he represents are currently facing.

He noted such a response time can be deadly to someone suffering a heart attack.

Halford pointed out the property tax dollars of those who bought $800,000 new homes are subsidizing many older neighborhoods where homes are taxed at Proposition 13 values that are often $400,000 or less.

Measure Q is expected help the city staff and equip the city’s sixth fire station planned for southwest Manteca. To do so, requires nine firefighters and an additional fire engine in addition to building the station.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com