CLEARLAKE — Support for lake issues was sought at the Clearlake City Council meeting Thursday by District 4 Lake County Supervisor Anthony Farrington.
Farrington gave a presentation to the council and asked for the council”s support to place a half-cent sales tax proposal on the ballot for the November election.
Farrington said Friday that the purpose of the sales tax proposal is to provide a source of ongoing revenue to promote, preserve and restore the health of Clear Lake. He said, “if passed, the projected annual revenue will be around $2.2 million.”
The Clearlake City Council approved the proposal by a 5-0 consensus.
Farrington will be making a similar presentation to the Lakeport City Council on Tuesday.
Farrington told the Clearlake City Council, “Our community can no longer trust the federal or the state government to invest and protect Clear Lake which is the lifeblood of our community.”
He added, “why would any voter support a state sponsored sales tax initiative to send money to Sacramento? They could support a local proposal, which would guarantee that the money stay here.”
Farrington has taken a strong position to support a lake sales tax over a countywide road tax.
He said, “it is my belief that Clear Lake is our most precious resource and that a vibrant and healthy Clear Lake will sustain property values, protect air quality, provide safe and clean drinking water supplies and will help Lake County turn the page economically to make Lake County the destination it was back in the 1960s and 1970s. Unlike a road tax, a lake tax will provide a greater return on our taxpayer”s investment.”
He pointed out to the council during his presentation that with an annual revenue of $2.2 million the county and the two cities would be able to aggressively treat the lake weeds, harvest algae and set up inspection stations at the major highways into the county to prevent the risk of the infestation of zebra and quagga mussels.
He said, “If the voters were to pass this proposal, it would send a signal not just within Lake County, but to neighboring counties and the rest of the state that Lake County is open for business.”
Farrington said he thinks that a substantial investment in Clear Lake will lure tourists and capital investment, which, he said in turn will translate into higher sales tax revenue, which would enable the two cities and the county to be able to provide much-needed public resources to improve the roads, infrastructure and invest more in law enforcement to combat methamphetamine issues that plague the area.
He thanked the Clearlake City Council for its 5-0 tentative support in placing the lake tax before the voters.
Farrington said he supports the City of Clearlake pursuing its own road tax and not the county tax.
He said, “Clearlake residents will have two positive items to consider in the upcoming November Election, which can and will, change the face of Clearlake and its community. “
