Things are not fine in Manteca.

That the response Mayor Ben Cantu says he gives to senior city management when they contend the City of Manteca is doing OK when it comes to delivering services and amenities.

And perhaps nothing underscores the difference in the mayor’s perspective and those who are reluctant on staff or among his elected colleagues to pursue increased taxes to address a wide variety of issues than the parking lot at Library Park.

It has been in a state of decay for more than a decade. While the crumbling pavement still holds up in places it wasn’t until last year the city finally got around to addressing several potholes. They were not only alignment business generators but also tripping hazards for the many community events such as the downtown street fair and Pumpkin Fair that use the parking lot for vendors.

“I call them the 20-year potholes,” Cantu said.
It is a reference to the length of time it has taken the city to address the most egregious and obvious issues in the city that impact the day-to-day quality of life whether it is a deteriorating municipal parking lot, unsafe sidewalks, street repairs, or the lack of lighting in heavily traveled sections of downtown.

And while the pothole that Cantu references in the parking lot wasn’t a problem for 20 years, it certainly was for a decade or so. Cantu also adds that the city is still not in a position to do what it needs to do which is repave or even rebuild the parking lot.

It is why he believes it is symbolic of what ails Manteca municipal government — inadequate revenue. The things that people are irked and concerned about the most are what Cantu sees as the city’s failure to maintain municipal improvements already in place as well as keep up with growth.

And even though it more often than not falls on deaf ears and riles those that think he is pushing the wrong agenda, Cantu said he will not stop stating the need for more taxes.

“Call it revenue if you want, “ Cantu said in reference to elected officials that avoid uttering the words ‘increase taxes’, “but it is what the city needs.”

“The average person doesn’t understand government is not a business,” the mayor said. “It is not in the business of selling products. Our ‘products’ are public services.”

Cantu noted it is a misconception that the city receives a ton of property taxes from what people pay. Depending upon when the land was annexed to the city where a home or business is built, the city receives anywhere between 14 and 18 cents of every dollar in general property taxes collected. And unlike the school district and Delta College there are no city property tax bond payments as the result of the public indebting itself to build amenities.

Not only do existing homes not generate enough property taxes to cover the cost of city services that a typical household uses beyond water, sewer and garbage service that are based on user fees, but neither do new homes even with taxable sales factored in for the occupants.

As a result Cantu noted the city is struggling to keep up with what levels of service are now in place for things such as police and street maintenance that he repeatedly hears  people say they want improved.

That is why he said he pursued storefront retail marijuana sales to capture taxable revenue being spent elsewhere such as in Modesto.

It is also why he favors looking at increasing revenue through more taxes.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com