THE FRUGAL VACAVILLE TAXPAYERS - Despite the fact we continually hear about the burdens of taxation, it can be said taxpayers within the City of Vacaville have been extremely frugal in expenditures for improvements throughout the past 130 years. In fact the total sum in general obligation bonds issued for civic improvements ever since those days when the Vacas and Penas first set foot here, is less than $2 million dollars.
On the other side of the ledger, although district voters have not approved all of the school bonding proposals offered in the past 100 years, they did place their big X on 18 separate proposals totaling $10,373,000, which included two issues of $3.6 each issued in October 1965 and June 1976.
The first bonding proposals ever offered here was in 1884 in the sum of $14,000, with the funds earmarked for a grade school. A favorable vote of 131 to 2 did the job. Then in 1898 a new high school was needed, and bonds in the amount of $10,000 were asked, and a favorable vote of 193 to 33 provided the funds.
As Vacaville attracted a few more people there was the need for a sewer system, but a 1901 proposal in the amount of $25,000 was defeated, 122 to 68. Again in 1904, residents rejected the plan, but in 1906 overwhelmingly placed an OK to the tune of 218 to 45.
The wood bridge spanning Ulatis Creek at the east end of Main needed replacing; a new one was necessary on McClellan; and there was need for a concrete culvert where Rabbit Creek crossed Dobbins Street. It was decided to go to the voters with a package, which not only included the bridge work, but also a septic tank for the new sewer farm. Also in the package was $18,800 for street work throughout the town. In the 1911 election seeking the total bonds of $26,600, the street work proposal went down to defeat, but Vacaville received funds for the new bridges and a septic tank.
In 1914, Vacaville voters approved $30,000 in bonds for additional street work, but when attorneys for bonding companies had studied the text of the proposals, they found the procedures. were illegal.
In June 1915, the same proposal went back to Vacaville voters, properly worded, and included on the ballot was $6,000 for Vacaville’s first mechanized fire engine. All of the issues carried and Vacaville had its fire engine by mid-1916.
Marching ahead, the acquisition of the water distribution system by the city of Vacaville from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company was approved in November 1958 by a vote of 1,778 to 467. Despite the fact the $2,450,000 in bonds needed for purchase was to come from water revenues, there was opposition to acquisition. PG&E had purchased the system, including the electrical distribution facilities from the Vacaville Water and Light Company for $175,000 in preferred PG&E stock, back in 1927. On the same ballot with the water system purchase, was a proposal of general obligation bonds in the sum of $990,000 for the initial construction of a new sewer plant near Elmira. A favorable 1874 to 362 vote was cast. These bonds will be paid off by 1990, and are the only general obligation bonds outstanding against the city of Vacaville.
Vacaville residents saw the need for some type of emergency medical services inasmuch as the community was without a hospital. In November 1976, a plan to incorporate within the local fire department a paramedic service, won approval. The tax rate established was 12 cents per $100 of property valuation. The one-sided vote reflected favorably, 8428 to 1334. This annual assessment will continue indefinitely.
Vacaville area voters went to the polls in November 1964 and rejected a bonding proposal in the amount of $750,000 to be used to construct a Vacaville hospital. On the same ballot was a proposal to form a hospital district. Both issues were defeated. It is estimated a tax rate of 29 cents would have been necessary at the time to amortize the bonds.
In June 1968, town and rural residents heavily favored the issuance of $335,000 for the construction of a new library on Merchant Street.
The vote was 3,012 to 1,328.
With the community rapidly expanding its residential boundaries, there was clamor for preservation of open space. When a proposal seeking a 15 cent tax for purchase of these lands was presented to the residents, it lost, 1,872 to 2,110.
Vacaville residents rode along with the taxpayer revolt in June 1978 by saying Yes to Proposition 13, 7,435 to 2,448. Prop. 13 placed limitations on property taxes.
Although the city of Vacaville is continually making improvements on its water distribution system and its sewage plant, it garners the funds from periodic increases in assessments and fees.
Vacaville’s city hall complex and the community center have been constructed and paid for from revenues other than general obligation bonds.
In February 1966, revenue bonds in the amount of $950,000 to be used to expand the easterly sewer plant, passed easily by a count of 1,125 to 120.
A review of financing procedures would indicate taxpayers prefer the revenue bond route as against general obligation assessments. But there’s one important fact to remember - You still must pay your share of the bills. The projected revenue from property taxes within the city of Vacaville for the 1980-81 year is set at $1,147,495, but it is interesting to note that income from sales and use taxes for the same period are estimated at $1,575,000.
Link: http://articles.solanohistory.net/7094/ | Solano History Database Record
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Vacaville Heritage Council