Monday, Nov. 02, 2009

Update on Measure A

City hopes police, firefighters can be paid from Measure P

Los Banos residents will go to the polls Tuesday and decide if city officials will be allowed to used facilities funding from a half-cent sales tax to pay the salaries of police officers and firefighters.

The amendment, known as Measure A, does not raise taxes and may keep more emergency services personnel from being laid off, according to proponents.

The city laid off more than 20 employees, including three police officers, in January because of declining sales and property tax revenues.

Updates on Measure A will be given on this Web site after polls close Tuesday.

Measure A needs a two-thirds majority to be approved.

Update:

At 8:01 p.m. with 8,957 absentee ballots counted, the Merced County Elections Department has recorded the Measure A vote at 83.5 percent in favor and 16.4 percent opposed. More absentee ballots are expected to be counted in the next 90 minutes.

Update:

At 9:55 p.m. Measure A had 83.5 percent in favor and 16.4 percent opposed with 87 percent of the precincts reporting.