Unemployment Could Be Rising in Coachella
The City of Coachella is suffering through tough economic times with one of the highest unemployment rates in the desert. But, as residents struggle to pay their bills, the City Council is asking them to vote for higher taxes
Coachella has four fewer police officers and one less fire engine due to cuts already implemented by the city.
“Also, the employers have taken a 10 percent pay cut via a furlough program that ends up closing City Hall on Fridays,” said Gene Rogers, interim Coachella city manager.
Almost one-quarter of the city’s population is unemployed, at 23.1 percent, according to the California Employment Development Department.
“We know it’s a high risk,” said Jesse Villarreal, a City Council member.
“It’s a situation where the city would become dysfunctional,” said Rogers.
Without additional revenue, Rogers says the city would once again have to consider cutting city jobs, mostly in law enforcement, like gang and narcotics officers. The 5 percent user utility tax would include gas, water, sewer, trash and electricity, he said.
“I don’t see any way that the city could operate and not go into a situation where you have a $1.6 to $2 million deficit without touching all services that we have,” said Rogers.
Council members say the tax would cost the average resident $300 per year.
“I know that the economy is not good,” said Villarreal. “[I know] that the city is one of the highest, if not the highest in unemployment rate.”
The measure has already failed once. It was defeated last November by a vote total of 53 percent to 47 percent, and since then, the unemployment rate has gone up.
“If it’s going to be used wisely and for us to be more secure and feel more secure, especially about our children, then I think it’s ok,” said Andrea Mejia, a Coachella resident.
The City Council says it will create a committee to oversee the spending of the revenue generated from the new tax, which will hopefully ease the concerns of reluctant voters.”
“So, in a way, it will be protected,” said Villarreal.
Voters will decide on June 8.
