New Tax Money To Benefit City Departments

With the passage of a new sales tax in the city of Sonora this week, officials are already looking at how to spend the money.

1.2 million dollars is the amount of additional tax revenue expected in a year´s time, and over 700-thousand dollars of that money will be going to the Sonora Police Department.

Chief Mace McIntosh said it´s going to be a big help.

“We´ll be able to add four officers, and unfreeze a current position. It also allows for making the wages of our officers more competitive with the surrounding areas so, once we train somebody, we can keep them here instead of training them and watching them go to another agency that pays more.”

New police equipment is also on the horizon thanks to Measure I.

“We will be working on upgrading the technology and equipment for the officers here,” McIntosh added.

Over 73 percent of voters supported the half-cent sales tax increase, which takes effect starting in January.