Stockton Mayor Seeking Public Support For Sales Tax Increase

Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva ran on the promise of more cops and safer streets.

Silva proposed a 3/4 cent sales tax increase to pay for 120 more cops, but the city beat him to it and Measure A  on the ballot. If approved by voters, he tax revenue would be used to implement the Marshall Plan to curb violence.

Now Silva has begun sending out mailers to ask for voter support on the tax increase out of his own campaign chest.

N. Allen Sawyer who is part of the Mayor's Safe Street Coalition says the mayor doesn't agree with all of Measure A, but does with the most important part.

"Ninety percent of the money dedicated to the Marshall Plan is going to go to adding new police officers, so let's just cut to the chase and talk about where the money is going to, especially in a city like Stockton. It's one of the lowest-staffed police departments in the nation." -- N. Allen Sawyer, Mayor's Safe Street Coalition

Some critics contend that the tax would let the city spend the money however it wanted, so Silva wants an oversight committee before the election takes place.

The tax would raise an estimated $28 million dollars the first year.