Balch and Testa split on hotel tax timing and East Pleasanton housing at mayoral forum

The two candidates for Pleasanton mayor drew clear lines on the city's budget, East Pleasanton and the downtown at a forum hosted by the Pleasanton Weekly, according to the paper's account published Friday.

Mayor Jack Balch is seeking a second two-year term. Councilmember Julie Testa, who is termed out of her District 3 seat after eight years on the council, is his only challenger in the Nov. 3 election. The forum was held Sept. 29 in the council chambers at the Pleasanton Civic Center, and video is posted on the Weekly's YouTube channel.

The hotel tax and the budget

Both candidates backed Measure HH, which raises the city's hotel tax, unchanged since 1983, from 8% to 10% next July and to 12% a year later. The paper reported the increase is projected to bring in up to $2.8 million a year.

They differed on the phase-in. Balch said the stepped schedule reflected the hotel industry's wish for time as it recovered from COVID-19, and that the added revenue, while modest, would help the city "maintain that high quality of life." Testa said she would have preferred the full increase sooner and called the measure a "band-aid solution" against deficits the city projects in the millions.

Balch opposed the 2024 sales tax measure that voters rejected; Testa supported it.

East Pleasanton and growth

On housing, Balch faulted the earlier council majority for leaving East Pleasanton out of the city's sixth-cycle housing element and said he supports multigenerational housing that is affordable by design. He said the city chose sites that comply with state law to avoid litigation, adding, "Not growing too fast is important, but not growing too slowly as well."

Testa was part of the majority that voted to exclude East Pleasanton, following the staff recommendation. She said the area is better suited to industrial uses that produce more tax revenue and lacks transit. She said she supports housing but wants it to be realistic for the city.

Downtown and public safety

Balch pointed to street cleaning, tree planting and the Pleasanton Playbook, a city effort to simplify business permitting. Testa said the city should talk directly with owners of empty storefronts: "It's their property, but it's our downtown. We should have that conversation."

On public safety, Balch said response times are measured differently by police and fire and should be standardized. Testa said the police department has "done a really great job" during her time on the council and pledged continued support.

The candidates also took questions on sewer rates, which the council is expected to vote on later this year, the search for a new city manager and street maintenance.

Sources

pleasantonweekly.com

pleasantonweekly.com