The VICA board of directors voted at its June 23 meeting (hosted by New Horizons) to
support an extension of current tax rates until a special election can be held later in the year to let voters decide whether to continue the rates for the additional five years that Gov. Jerry Brown is requesting. The current tax rates are set to expire July 1 and, without an extension, would mean drastic cuts to education, public safety and vital social services.
Earlier in the year, VICA supported placing the tax extensions on a special election ballot, but stopped short of supporting the taxes themselves. Lawmakers were unable to reach an agreement that would allow voters to weigh in on the extensions before their expiration, making the tax “bridge” necessary to keep the state from falling farther into the red.