SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A measure that would increase San Diego County’s sales tax rate by a half-cent will appear before voters again this fall.

The Registrar of Voters has confirmed more than 100,000 signatures have been collected and verified, meeting the threshold to put the measure on the November ballot.

It’s shaping up to be one of the county’s most closely watched ballot measures and already generating strong opinions.

“My position is about wages, working conditions, and benefits to our firefighters, and if it’s going to bring us money to increase that, that’s my voice for the 1,100 members that I serve,” said Billy Tomasello, Vice President for Cal Fire Local 2881’s 10th district.

It’s one of several unions and advocacy groups backing the measure – known as the “Protect San Diego’s Health and Safety Act.”

Those in favor argue that raising the county’s sales tax rate from 7.75% to 8.25% would generate more than $350 million a year.

“This is the last thing that San Diego residents need is another sales tax increase, and this one goes on forever,” said County Board Supervisor and congressional candidate Jim Desmond.

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He is among those who oppose the initiative. “We’ve got people that are leaving because they can’t afford to live here. Young people, you know, leaving and not being able to afford a house or raise a family. We need to be lowering the cost and making San Diego County affordable,” he added.

Supporters point out that if passed, the measure would also offset federal cuts to healthcare and social programs and help fund efforts to address the Tijuana River crisis.

“Tijuana River issue that, quite frankly, that needs to be dealt with by the federal government,” said Desmond.

Meanwhile, Tomasello said the county is doing a good job funding public safety, but more funding would help increase staffing, resources, equipment, and improve infrastructure.

“We have facilities that our firefighters are in that are built in the ’60s and the ’70s. There’s asbestos in there. There’s diesel fuel in there. They’re all related to cancer. They’re exposed to it 24 hours a day,” said Tomasello.

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At its core, the goal is public safety, driven by mitigation and wildfire prevention efforts.

“The call volume is increasing. Fires are burning at a higher rate. More demanding. We don’t burn six months out of the year anymore around this time. We burn every month, 12 months out of the year,” said Tomasello.

But even with pressure from both sides, “it’s up to the voters,” he added.

The County Board of Supervisors is expected to take formal action required to place the measure on the ballot at one of its next regular board meetings in June, though an exact date has yet to be announced.

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