Folsom – We have a problem. - Folsom Takes Action

City of Folsom Rainbow Bridge - Folsom Takes Action

1

Folsom has a legacy as one of the best cities in California to live, work, play, and raise a family. To preserve this legacy, we invite you to explore this initiative, learn more, and join us as Folsom Takes Action.

“Folsom Takes Action” Qualifies Special Sales Tax Measure for the November 2024 Ballot!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2024

Contact: Robert Goss
Email: folsomtakesaction@gmail.com

KRBK NEWS RADIO

The Afternoon News with Kitty O’Neal

Citizen’s Group “Folsom Takes Action” Places 1% Sales Tax Measure on Ballot

By Kitty O’Neal, KFBK News Radio | May 13, 2024

THANK YOU to the Folsom residents and the entire community who have supported the sales tax measure to get this on the ballot.

NEXT STEP: Continue the education process so residents are 100% confident in their decision to vote YES in November!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our newsletters.

We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and will never trade or sell your email address.

FOLSOM TAKES ACTION!

FOLSOM TAKE ACTION!

Our city is facing a financial shortfall that will impact our safety, property values, public services (parks & recreation, road maintenance, trail improvements, etc.) and the quality of life we enjoy as citizens of Folsom.

A combination of factors, including “the Amazon Effect” (online vs. local shopping that diverts more of Folsom’s revenues to the county and other cities), and rising costs from inflation have brought us to a point where expenses are outpacing revenues. As a result we now face difficult choices.

We can either do nothing – forcing city leaders to cut back services; or we can take action now to maintain public safety and preserve our quality of life for years to come.

In recent years, survey after survey of Folsom residents has shown we want:

More resources to enhance public safety, reduce crime, and address homelessness
Street improvements to repair roads and reduce traffic
Maintenance and improvements to our existing parks, fields and playgrounds – and new ones built
A strategy and resources to attract more businesses and high-paying jobs
Citizen oversight on how our tax dollars are spent
More amenities and reliable public services

That’s why a group of Folsom citizens, not politicians, have come together to take action now.

Our proposal: a 1-percent special sales tax that:

Keeps money local – all funds raised from this measure stay in Folsom and cannot be taken by the state or county
Funds fire, rescue, and emergency medical services
Funds increased police protection to help reduce crime and address homelessness
Provides funding for road improvements and to help reduce traffic congestion
Enhances our parks and trails, and invests in our future
Requires all revenue to be audited and monitored by a Citizens Oversight Committee
Cannot be used to enhance pensions or for any other purpose not listed in the ballot measure language.

Folsom has a legacy as one of the best cities in California to live, work, play, and raise a family. Strong property values also rely on having a safe community, good parks and libraries, and well-maintained streets and roads. To preserve this legacy, we invite you to explore this initiative, learn more, and join us as Folsom Takes Action.

How Did We Get Here?

Inflation, rising staff costs (even though there are fewer city employees today than in 2008), unfunded mandates from our state government, rising contract costs, and “The Amazon Effect” (which diverts Folsom’s sales tax revenues to the county and other cities), have all contributed to our current financial situation. Read more…

What’s Been Done To Prevent This, (and is a sales tax the only option)?

The city has worked for years to stretch dollars and cut costs. Nearly 20 years of independent audits show the city’s been responsible with public funds. We have a revenue problem, not a spending problem. Read more…

What does an extra 1-cent get you?

An extra 1-cent on every dollar spent on taxable goods in Folsom – all of which stays in Folsom and cannot be taken by the State or County – will generate $29 million in funding annually that can only be used for public safety, improving traffic, improving parks and trails, enhancing our community, and economic development. Read more…

Asphalt issues on basketball court at city park

What Happens if We Don’t Act Now?

The city has faced the same inflationary impacts we all have – fuel, materials, and vendors all cost more. Even keeping services at current levels in the future won’t be possible as costs rise faster than revenue sources. Without a new revenue source the city will have to reduce public services even further to fit within the funding the city has available – and we all lose. Read more…