An Open Letter to the Citizens of Citrus Heights

Reading recent guest articles and social media content regarding the Citrus Heights proposed MEASURE M has been concerning.  It appears some of our residents are not seeing the positive benefits or future growth potential of Measure M. Many were residents who were against cityhood, against starting our own police department, against building the Community Center and finally the City Hall and the Dignity Health Medical Office Building projects. But we have now seen how these successful endeavors have brought benefits and positive change in the social and economic growth to Citrus Heights. I had hoped those issues were behind us. But ironically, life in the Rearview Mirror tends to blur our focus and prohibits a vision for future growth and economic stability.

MEASURE M is a tax proposal that completely benefits the City of Citrus Heights. The funding is not shared with, controlled or managed by any outside group or government agency.  It is one cent tax paid by residents and non-residents who shop and dine in our city. It is not a regional tax and funds cannot be spent projects outside Citrus Heights. This is completely opposite of county wide sales tax propositions such as Measure A. Those tax dollars went into a fund managed by the Sacramento Transportation Authority and we should in theory have receive 50-60 cents of each dollar we paid. However, we never received the bulk of the funds due us and are now looking at FY2025 before we receive funding. Yet we continue to pay the half cent sales taxes towards that measure.

In a newspaper article a taxpayer advocate outlined several regional transportation tax proposals, including a new measure in Sacramento County, that have been removed from the ballot. The key to the argument is these were regional road tax funding proposals. The simple fact is those and prior tax measures failed to provide road repair funding the communities being taxed were promised.

A former Citrus Heights council member recently wrote that based upon their experience on the council there is no need for the proposed tax measure. What is not said is that those experiences were from a time when the Sunrise Mall and other major big retailers provided significant sales tax income that allowed Citrus Heights to build the savings surplus that carried our city through several years without loans or tax increases.  A view from The Rearview Mirror.

Now is the time for viewing our city through The Windshield. MEASURE M will generate the funding necessary to build for the future of our community. In studies and outreach sessions undertaken by the city, the residents have responded with a wish list of projects, shopping, entertainment and recreational facilities that are important for Citrus Heights families. The Sunrise Mall property is just one such multi-use proposal on the list and the city has responded.  The future of the Sunrise Mall under new ownership and with significant efforts by our city leadership promises to once again be a focal point of economic, recreational and residential growth and stability for Citrus Heights.

Measure M tax dollars will provide funding to build the envisioned public venues, help meet the needs for road repair and resurfacing projects in our neighborhoods, provide matching funds required to apply for state and federal grants, and save funds for future projects like an animal shelter or community recreational complex.  As voters we ask for accountability. The city proposes an Independent Citizen Oversight, mandatory financial audits and transparency for Measure M funding expenditures.

MEASURE M is a long-term view for the future of Citrus Heights.  Let’s look at our future through the Windshield of possibilities and not the Rearview Mirror presented by some. We need to stay #CITRUS HEIGHTS STRONG!