Sales tax

Speaking against the no votes, she argued rejecting the sales tax leaves low-income residents paying for car damage and facing slower police, fire and EMS response, and noted the city's GoFundMe road fundraiser has raised only $200 of the roughly $1 million per mile needed.

Jones thanked Lee and Gregg for voting no on the tax initiative, complained that road and public safety promises never materialize, and criticized the disruption of Ochoa at the last meeting plus social media 'clown' comments aimed at tax opponents.

Said residents can't afford another tax, criticized the city's reliance on consultants, and urged the council to cut spending instead.

Read a formal letter of opposition, citing 40%+ business license fee increases, lawsuit costs from denied tract maps, and questioned the police staffing math.

Demanded transparency on the survey's CPAs, said promises of roads since 1982 haven't been kept, and asked for a specific use and a sunset clause.

Criticized the $217,000 Team Civex/True North survey, said records requests went unanswered and were called proprietary, and urged the council not to approve the tax measure.

Deferred most of his time but stated plainly: Hesperia doesn't need a sales tax increase.

Said the median income in Hesperia is about $45,000, most workers commute out of town, and the city should seek state/NGO funding and fiscal responsibility instead of another tax.

Said he once supported the tax only if earmarked for roads and public safety, but is now 100% opposed because it's a general tax the council can spend freely; also criticized the $217,000 survey.

Living on Social Security after a bus-driving career, she said she can't afford another tax and urged the council not to put it on the ballot.

Argued the $0.01 framing and low agenda placement are designed to confuse voters, called the tax regressive, and urged a no vote.

Said the city's tax survey mailer didn't interest her, questioned what it cost to mail, and said she'll vote no because money is tight.

Ripped the $217,000 consultant spend and tax mailer as non-neutral and deceptive, questioned the survey methodology, and asked when the council will vote on putting the tax on the ballot.

Said the city is stonewalling on details of a proposed sales tax doubling — consultant Tim McLarney won't return calls and his records request is a month old — and asked for a public list of projects the tax would fund.

Opposed the sales tax, citing the Adelanto poker parlor closure, a $217,000 consultant spend, and questioning whether the city will specify how tax money would be spent.

Thanked the council for Summit Valley Road safety improvements, asked who to contact about adding a lane, and later questioned the proposed tax increase and survey methods.

Listed what he called unnecessary spending — golf course operations, land purchases — and asked the city not to put a sales tax on the ballot, noting the Horizon newsletter didn't advertise the tax meetings.

Pleaded "no more taxes," noting rising vehicle registration and grocery costs while living on social security, and asked the city to seek more money from the county.

Asked why the Horizon newsletter isn't advertising the tax discussions, questioned whether the survey was door-to-door, and asked for the exact proposed tax rate, saying doubling would be too much for low-income residents.

Asked for a public records request on the proposed city sales tax — when it will be discussed, what the money is for, and why a particular consultant was chosen over four other bids.