The Santa Maria City Council approved 57 new jobs with the passing of Measure U, which increased the city’s sales tax by one cent.
Thirty-six of those positions are in areas of public safety, quality of life, and youth services.
Fifteen positions are with the police department.
The city says the tax will also allow the Recreation and Parks Department to purchase two new vans for field trips for teens.
The public library will also be open on Sundays and firefighters will have another response unit due to the extra funds.
“We have that obligation, the voters told us this is why we’re voting for it and now they have the expectation and we’re gonna fulfill that, we’re gonna spend every cent on every one of those items that the voters want,” said Mark van de Kamp, City of Santa Maria Public Information Manager.
The city says the one-cent tax will add $19.3 million in the first year.
