With the assistance of $5,000 in joint contributions from the Oakdale police and firefighters unions, the Oakdale City Council on May 2 authorized $10,000 for the hiring of Godbe Research to conduct a poll regarding a sales tax initiative for this year’s November ballot.

The approval comes at the request from the community ad-hoc committee that is exploring the feasibility of a city sales tax increase to off-set the city’s recent budget cuts and short falls to the general fund. Committee Co-Chairs Frank Clark and Mickey Peabody along with Godbe Research Representative Charles Hester made a presentation to the city council at the May 2 council meeting.

Oakdale Police Officers Association President Brian Shimmel and Oakdale City Firefighters Association President Tony Miranda advised the council prior to their vote that both associations would contribute $2,500 each to offset the $15,000 cost of the survey.

The council would still have to pass by a unanimous vote putting the measure on the November ballot. The purpose of the survey is to determine if the probability of passage would be beneficial before the costs for the election.

For more details, see the related story in the May 11 issue of The Leader.