In 2018 Carpinteria voters adopted Measure X, which slightly increased our sales tax. By funding programs that greatly benefit our residents, it's given our community new life.
Carpinteria's small increase is more than 50 percent funded by non-resident shoppers and tourists. It raises between $3 million and $4 million per year for local needs. Our community library has a robust budget now; we've taken on the backlog of road maintenance, given law enforcement the boost it needs, and enhanced parks and recreation for our kids.
Goleta's Measure B on this November's ballot would raise even more revenue — more than $10.5 million per year via a penny-per-dollar sales tax increase — and still have a sales tax the same as or lower than all local cities. Like Carpinteria, a huge chunk of that money would come from outside, courtesy of non-resident shoppers.