The San Jose City Council voted Tuesday night 5-5 to add a half-cent sales tax on the November ballot.
The tie vote effectively means the issue dies, and the proposal will not appear on the ballot.
San Jose City Manager Deborah Figone had recommended the city ask voters to add that extra half-penny per dollar to the tax rate for the next 15 years saying the new tax rate would generate $56 million to $64million a year.
If voters had a chance to say yes, the revenue could mean funds for city services like public safety, parks and libraries.
Earlier in the day, several customers and store owners voiced their disapproval with the idea of more taxes.
“I’d like to see us tax things like cigarettes or alcohol rather than tax the general public,” said Stephanie Wing, who works in San Jose.
Her friend, Moira Mitchell, who owns a business in San Jose agreed: “I generally thing taxes are a bad idea, especially for small businesses which really drive the nation’s economy."
Local
In other tax news, the Santa Clara County board of supervisors voted 4-0 to put an eighth cent countywide sales tax on the November ballot.
