ARVIN - In 2008, voters in Arvin approved Measure L. It increased the sales tax by one percent to eight and a quarter percent.
That generated $3 million to hire new police officers. But, there is now a $450,000 surplus.
Some people in the community think the extra money should go to projects to help Arvin's youth.
"That money should be spent on the kids,” said Salvador Partida, President of the Committee for a Better Arvin. “And, the parks where the kids play soccer and baseball, have those fixed. There are a lot of potholes, I understand, on the fields and some kids are even spraining their ankles because there are holes in the grass."
Other residents believe the city needs to grow and the money should be spent to repair roads to lure new businesses.
Arvin Mayor Jose Flores agrees with his constituents, but also wants to add two more police officers.
"You know that money was not intended to save it or put into a trust fund or anything like that,” Flores said. “That funding is specifically to provide services to improve the quality of life of our citizens and to make sure they have the protection that is needed."
City administrators plan to hold a second meeting in August to announce the projects covered by the surplus.