What Should Be Done With the Estimated $2.2 Million That Could Be Brought in by the Cannabis Cultivation Tax This Year

Humboldt County Budget Roadshow 2017 iconPress release from the Humboldt County Administrative Office:

Last November, Humboldt County voters chose to enact a local tax on commercial cannabis cultivation, known as Measure S. This measure is an important step that could help drive out the black market and fund important services. In March, citizens will have their first opportunity to tell elected officials the changes they expect to see in the community as a result of this tax.

Beginning March 2, members of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will host a series of community meetings to discuss the county budget. These meetings will be geared towards Measure S, and attendees will be asked to submit their priorities for projects that should be funded with revenue from the measure. The county estimates that Measure S will generate $2.2 million in Fiscal Year 2017-18.

All submissions will be recorded and used to help determine final allocations of these funds in FY 2017-18. If you cannot attend any of the meetings you will still be able to submit your comments electronically beginning the week of March 13 via the county’s Open Humboldt discussion forum. Sign up here to be notified when this comment period opens.

“There is so much happening at the state and federal levels right now that it can overshadow some of the things happening locally. But local government is where the rubber meets the road in terms of policies affecting people, and it’s important for citizens to engage in the process to shape those policies,” said Virginia Bass, 4th District Supervisor and Chair of the Board. “We need to know what is important to you, and this meeting is a great opportunity to do that. It’s also a great opportunity to provide you with a fun, educational evening.”

Before each meeting, county officials will also host a meet-and-greet from 5:30 to 6 p.m. where residents may visit one-on-one with their elected officials and representatives from several county departments. All community meetings will begin promptly at 6 p.m.

Below are the locations where citizens can attend the meeting closest to them:

 

Southern Humboldt

Thursday, March 2, 6 to 8 p.m.*

Benbow KOA Campground – Friendship Hall

7000 Benbow Drive, Benbow

Add this event to your calendar

Eastern Humboldt

Monday, March 6, 6 to 8 p.m.*

Willow Creek Community Services District

135 Willow Road, Willow Creek

Add this event to your calendar

Central Humboldt

Thursday, March 9, 6 to 8 p.m.*

Sequoia Conference Center

901 Myrtle Ave., Eureka

Add this event to your calendar

*Meet-and-greet with Supervisors and county staff runs from 5:30 to 6 p.m. each evening.

If you cannot attend the meeting in person, you can still take part in the conversation by:

  • Sending in your questions and comments via Twitter to @HumCoGov using #HumCo2018
  • Watching on Access Humboldt channel 10, or channel 7 if your service provider is Wave Cable. The replay will be a compilation of the meetings and will last roughly 30 minutes. It will air beginning the week of March 20
  • Responding to questions posted on Open Humboldt, the county’s on-line discussion forum.

The county is working with several community partners to hold these meetings, including Access Humboldt, the Willow Creek Community Services District, Humboldt County Office of Education and Benbow KOA Campground.

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MOGTX
Guest
7 years ago

Without the black market the pot industry would go down the shitter. We’re do you think the cooperate size grow s are gonna sell there pot .a majority of it will be sold to the black market . Let’s just say for instance there is no black market who are they going to be able to sell all their thousand of pounds of pot to. its not going to a Collective or dispensary I’m sure ,so what the he’ll is going to happen?

Hmmm
Guest
Hmmm
7 years ago
Reply to  MOGTX

You’re so right.

Rodney Brunlinger
Guest
Rodney Brunlinger
7 years ago

The voters passed Measure Z (Public Safety Tax) and then immediately the Myrtle Ave fire station closed. Remember the Eureka City Schools tax? Boondoggled. Remember how Lottery money was going to flood our schools into 1st class? Boondoggled.
This money is going to be boondoggled faster than you can believe. I wish history could give me a gram of confidence. Let the Dog & Pony show begin.

Just-me
Guest
Just-me
7 years ago

Lower my sales and property taxes with this money.

throttlebro
Guest
throttlebro
7 years ago

Socialist safe spaces.

rollin21
Guest
rollin21
7 years ago

The money will be used to support children and feed the poor and for pink unicorns. Life will be better and the sun will shine. Yaay!

homer
Guest
homer
7 years ago

Our roads need to be updated ! 2.2 million would be just a small down payment but at least a start in the right direction.

Shak
Guest
Shak
7 years ago
Reply to  homer

Jerry already requested 100 billion for that. Unfortunately, he then tossed it back by breaching his contract with the other states. Ya win some ya lose some. Priorities ya know.
http://dailycaller.com/2017/02/10/california-asks-for-100b-despite-refusal-to-enforce-immigration-laws/?utm_campaign=thedcmainpage&utm_source=Facebook&utm_term=ma&utm_medium=Social

LocalLarry
Guest
LocalLarry
7 years ago
Reply to  Shak

Is that the same brown that got 750 billion dollars funding for Californias waterways and didnt spend a single cent on them…? Is that the same brown that also was supporting calexit?
If it was for liberals alone the US would be broke af. And we would be underdeveloped like mexico due to them handing out money to even people that solely come here to defraud our country. Blood sweat and tears and a lot of hard work is what it takes to build a great nation.
And the money needs to be spent on enforcement and erradication to give folks who are stepping forward and going legal a chance to succeed and continue to contribute these amounts of dollars to this county.
Or are they being set up to fail while the supes already have big companies lined up to replace them? Unincorporated cities and towns like garberville are guaranteed to be left out for funding due to being backwards and too stubborn for forward motion and progress.

Cheddar Bob
Guest
Cheddar Bob
7 years ago

Raises!!

Hello
Guest
Hello
7 years ago

Every county road has hundreds of new workers traveling back-and-forth to pull the tarps for the hoops on night off in the morning people are driving like idiots The money should go towards the The county roads there should be a double tax on them just for that where the rubber meets the road your “Not mine

Hello
Guest
Hello
7 years ago

By the way how many people s**t in and pissing in the woods that is leaching into our water system if you don’t have a f***ing Septic system for all your employees you should be shut the f**k down

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
7 years ago
Reply to  Hello

Really?

LocalLarry
Guest
LocalLarry
7 years ago
Reply to  Hello

Compliant grows have either septic or porta pottys .
You are apparently not updated on the guidlines.
Go down and get the ordinance at the county planning and building department you can also find it online once you figure out that the device you are using works great for other than commenting on this site.
Besides there not being any studies showing negative effects of outhouses on the water table or quality. If you happen to find any please feel free to share them with us.
The growers are the biggest contributors to humboldts economy especially in the very near future. To every problem theres a solution so get educated because this is what Humboldt has. Its world renound .
Napa has wine and we have cannabis.
The county needs to step up and take care of the shady non compliant grows is what needs to happen. Make it clear and set a firm tone to property owners that grow on commercial scales (more than the legal 6 plants) that its illegal and risking forfeiture even property seizure. Get compliant! Only half of the known grows signed up! Meaning erradication teams will be working hard all throughout the season. There will be harsh penalties and surely they will set an example . make it clear that it is not worth the gamble.
If your worried about the water go to phillipsville and let the guy know down by the river that his soil and perlite have washed out to sea and that perlite isnt fish food. Why havent we heard about a fish and wildlife visit and a cease and desisst order by the way?
Or can all riverfront property owners grow below the high water mark line? Isnt that state property?
Lets get the easy ones checked off and get informed before spouting off about septic tanks and fecies in the woods.
By the way the damn squirrels skunks bears and deer poo in the woods all day you forgot to mention them …
And dont bite the hand that feeds you.

WyattHerb
Guest
WyattHerb
7 years ago

How about fixing rural roads that have been deferred on maintenance/ completely neglected, how about eradicating all non compliant not registered grows, thats what your supposed to be doing with the growers money.
Now that they got a taste of money I’m sure they’ll come up with all sorts of other taxes and fees, and sit here pretending not knowing what to do with the growers permit money, …
How about you ask the ones you took this money from?
What is wrong with this county?

That sauce is boss
Guest
That sauce is boss
7 years ago
Reply to  WyattHerb

Agree completely. fixing loads of roads and financing the eradication of non compliant / non registered grows has my vote.

livin' easy
Guest
livin' easy
7 years ago

For years, CAMP tried to eradicate illegal grows. Millions were spent and look where we are now. Our courts can’t/won’t do much anyway due to overcrowding and all the meth & heroin arrests. Allocating money would be a waste of funds and wouldn’t make a difference. Continuing to bust those grows that happen to be reported or come across by people should continue. Even the officers who were with the CAMP operations confessed that they were ‘spinning their wheels’ and not making a difference.

10toes
Guest
10toes
7 years ago
Reply to  livin' easy

Exactly right , maybe they should spend a fraction of that on cleaning up these streets of redway , gville, reka, etc…. Humboldt ,mendo …Is a safe haven for tweakers and drug addicts… Me and my friend where sitting Debs ,an literally watched a tweaker at Ace hardware in redway after hours, set a fire by the front door/ soda machine . As chp passed by tiwce and did absolutely nothing ….So we went over there and told him to move around …He turns around and his first words….”want to buy a pound !” Clean this trash up please. I really wish this place was open carry friendly as it is 215 friendly. Sherrifs would agree… lol less work and calls for them ….[edit]

TheFuture
Guest
TheFuture
7 years ago
Reply to  livin' easy

My guess is you are referring to the good ol days of easy livin.
Well pal its 2017 now.
The age of satellites, satellite internet, smart phones, i pads , tablets, online banking, and all the other fine things that connect us even right here.
Most of all though let me tell you about this thing called google earth.
You cant hide what your doing anymore. The guy above the landslide in redway just recently found out the hard way about this as his grow was exposed due to a natural disaster. By anither fine little invention technology birthed called the drone.
The easy livin good ol days are counted.
The erradication team doesnt need to show up anymore. This is also of the past. They can see clearly who is doing what on whose land.
Once a landowner gets a letter informing them to cease and dessist or risk 10 grand a day in fines the grower themselves will erradicate his or her own plants.
Its not going to be worth paying the fines to grow let alone have your property seized not to mention the Feds or IRS liquidating your entire life!
I suggest you think again and leave it where it lays , in the past.
The future on the other hand is where you should focus on surely you want to live another day right here on earth tomorrow.

C2po
Guest
C2po
7 years ago
Reply to  WyattHerb

Some folks in local govt got some nice lining in their pockets that look a lot like our tax dollars. Lets fund an actual paper trail. The amount we generate already from fuel tax and sales tax is off the charts. Where does it go???
I would bet good money that over half of the road issues right now are projects the county knew about and didnt fix soon enough. Now theyre disasters.
No reflection on county/city road workers, theyre overworked, its the management that seems bad.
Id like to hear what the folks who work on the roads say they would need to get things done over summer, more workers, equipment, etc?

Envy
Guest
Envy
7 years ago
Reply to  C2po

My guess is you are referring to the good ol days of easy livin.
Well pal its 2017 now.
The age of satellites, satellite internet, smart phones, i pads , tablets, online banking, and all the other fine things that connect us even right here.
Most of all though let me tell you about this thing called google earth.
You cant hide what your doing anymore. The guy above the landslide in redway just recently found out the hard way about this as his grow was exposed due to a natural disaster. By anither fine little invention technology birthed called the drone.
The easy livin good ol days are counted.
The erradication team doesnt need to show up anymore. This is also of the past. They can see clearly who is doing what on whose land.
Once a landowner gets a letter informing them to cease and dessist or risk 10 grand a day in fines the grower themselves will erradicate his or her own plants.
Its not going to be worth paying the fines to grow let alone have your property seized not to mention the Feds or IRS liquidating your entire life!
I suggest you think again and leave it where it lays , in the past.
The future on the other hand is where you should focus on surely you want to live another day right here on earth tomorrow.

HiwardJohnsonisright
Guest
HiwardJohnsonisright
7 years ago
Reply to  C2po

The county surely wants to keep their loyalty to residents and taxpayers and no better way to display their honesty and transparency which calls for a track and trace program for our tax dollars.
Forget a cashless society where everything is digits on screens and monitors we need scanner code on dollar bills to make sure we the people arent being betrayed by greedy corrupt officials which time has proven to be an issue over and over again.
Lets track and trace our tax dollars!
Good call C2po!

Hello
Guest
Hello
7 years ago

Ask the people they took the money from [edit]

Hello
Guest
Hello
7 years ago

They should be double taxed for all the traffic and all the havoc they have caused in this county

Hello
Guest
Hello
7 years ago

Just fix The freaking roads

ED Denson
Guest
ED Denson
7 years ago

Hey Kym, Re the headline: this tax has not brought in any money yet. It is for the 2017 season and the first tax bills will go out in the late spring. They shouldn’t count their chickens before they are hatched, either. There are some problems with Measure S.

O. Crimony
Guest
O. Crimony
7 years ago

Fix our roads! Semi’s hauling supplies for pot growers have torn them to shreds. It’s only fair that some of this money should fix the damage.

The Puffin
Guest
7 years ago

Public rest rooms in G-ville

That sauce is boss
Guest
That sauce is boss
7 years ago
Reply to  The Puffin

U mean roofed drug areas for the homeless? No thanks

Hello
Guest
Hello
7 years ago

It’s Friday I’m drinking why did I get edited edited

Hello
Guest
Hello
7 years ago

.I was very sincere and matter-of-fact

sue
Guest
sue
7 years ago

Fix the roads..Briceland road is destroyed

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
7 years ago

Subsidize the growers! Market is gone. Maybe 1-2% of Humboldt growers will survive. This is no bullshit. Look at the central valley. Don’t fucking comment and tell me no cannabis is being grown down there. Acres of cannabis, growing in the sun with light supplement. They have harvested and replanted already this year.

Willis
Guest
Willis
7 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

BS give proof of where acres and acres of supplemental light cannabis have already been harvested this year? And proof of how market has already tanked? I just don’t see that?

How will county expect to collect taxes if they can’t issue the permits? Hard to collect if people are not sure if they will receive a permit, this is all at county level, we haven’t even discussed state licenses, many many people won’t get them.

Ed Denison- please expand on issues you see with S ?

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
7 years ago
Reply to  Willis

It’s out there. Do some research. Check Instagram and Facebook. My apologies, I’m referring to the Salinas, Monterey area. The market hasn’t officially tanked as of yet. It has one more year, two at max. Plenty of companies are already getting ready for $500 pounds. The price isn’t going to tank most people, its the supply. Where is all pf this cannabis going?

Bruh
Guest
Bruh
7 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

This is absolutely true!! Harborside set up a huge multiple acre greenhouse grow in Monterey county, they’ve already pulled a few crops. All the biggest clubs already vertically integrated, they ain’t buying from Humboldt anymore. The end is near, next year well be seeing lbs at less than 700. Humboldt has always been a great place for black market shoppers so we’ll see how long it really takes to kill the industry up here but I’m with you in thinking one two years left tops! Maybe we need to step up our black market game and starting thinking internationally, have Chinese consumers developed a taste for high end cannabis yet? Lbs still fetch a high ticket in Australia? Interesting times for sure. Anyone look at Humboldt MLS lately, I counted over 40 properties for sale with permits pending asking over a million, no owner carry lol. The market is way over saturated and all the old-timers already sold out. It’s been fun Humboldt!

humboldtfirst
Guest
humboldtfirst
7 years ago
Reply to  Bruh

If you were anywhere near reality then colorado should have flopped a long time ago.
Yet their residents get annual checks made out to them from the surplus money. The same way alaskans get free money from all the oil they produce.
Go and sell your farm and move on out. Theres 40 million residents in california and half of them need a constant supply.
Did you hear of salves and medibles? Not to mention thousands of other products made from cannabis.
Did you understand that this is also made from the same plant?
Think outside the box.
I have seen legal invoiced sales and the flower isnt even being smoked, its used to make extracts or other product and the farmer could care less, having gotten decent pay. All legal. You simply are stuck in the past.
Like easy livin you need to think outside the box the past has shaped around you.
The future looks bright for folks who can leave the good ol days behind. Lets not forget it starts with pay to play. On the list or on the menue.
You had your chance the deadline is up get ready and plan your escape routes.
Why on earth are half these people unwilling to progress and cut their ties tothe black market? Turn this passion away from the shady side.
No one in washington goea to buy a sack at someones house. You go to the store where you can pick and choose from wide variety…
Good bye old timers.
Remember you take yourself out of the game by not trying to legitimize your business that you are so passionate and protective about!

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
7 years ago
Reply to  humboldtfirst

Cool story [edit]. You’ll see soon enough. Good to keep positive though.

humboldtfirst
Guest
humboldtfirst
7 years ago
Reply to  Willis

Folks who have figured out to low ball farmers by flashing cash arent the representatives of supply and demand. They are simply middlemen or brokers who low ball the grower.
The demand unsatiable.
Dont tell me you believe that the world stops smoking weed in the off season when the price is at its all time low.
While your playing with the piddler trying to figure out whats taking your outlet so long to return they are chuckling about the farmer all the way to the east side of the U.S.
The cartel is still smuggling in their throat burn special mexicali swag.
More people are choosing the natural healing and therapeutic properties only a good spliff or a sideproduct of cannabis can provide
Please tell me you dont really believe the loudmouths.
Turns out Blue Dream is an all American favorite according to main stream news while i hear loudmouth brokers say”my guy will not even look at blue dream”.
They are clowning all you farmers so hard it is beyond belief.
How about” we only want big dense og” in june i might want to add.
Clowned by complete amateurs !
Stop giving it away that cheap unless absolutely neccessary. Cannabis is the closest thing to gold we have.
Stop blowing it out this low.

Shak
Guest
Shak
7 years ago

Provide Betty Chin with the proper facilities she outlines, for showers, beds, trade school, mental health, gardening, whatever she needs for getting people back on their feet. This may include banking the money so she can utilize the interest gained each month, for a steady income towards ending homelessness.
Locals receiving top priority. Others given bus tickets.
Investing vs spending.
With interest rates too low, real value is needed. Filling our local banks with real gold instead of worthless paper, people with real tools instead of hopelessness, and …
Unicorns. Let’s buy a herd of unicorns! Everybody gets a free unicorn.

That sauce is boss
Guest
That sauce is boss
7 years ago

First of all, 2.2 million is so under target. The tax is 1 dollar per sq foot for outdoor, (let’s just pretend everyone is doing outdoor for easier math) let’s also pretend that everyone is only growing the tier 1 (which is only up to 5k sq feet) anyway we all know for sure most people are actually doing more then tier
1. So the math is 5000 dollars per grow, multiply that by the 2k people that signed up. By my calculations that’s 11,500,000 and that’s with super low balling everything how much the county will get PER YEAR mind you…they better rebuild every fing road in humboldt and put the remaining money into the schools.

rollin21
Guest
rollin21
7 years ago

Love all the pipe dream comments about fixing the roads. The gas tax is supposed to be used for that. This money will be pissed away like all money the gov receives while ostensibly being used for some noble cause. Wake the fuck up!

Daryl
Guest
Daryl
7 years ago

Show us the sales receipts for the Marijuana sold by the recipients of permits!!!!!!!
Permits to sell Marijuana illegally!!!!!
Cannabis grown outdoors is for out of state market!!!!!!!
Political corruption on state and local level to line their pockets!!!!

Willis
Guest
Willis
7 years ago

The Price may not be what it was but to say the market isn’t strong is nuts. Please post these links to the Monterey salinas grows that are in production not just in planning, so far all I’ve seen are rumors but would love to learn more.

I doubt the county can tax applicants before issuing permits, but maybe since they gave them an affidivid to exist until permit is processed?

Ed Denson- what specific issues do you see with the Tax?

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
7 years ago
Reply to  Willis

Do the work yourself. I’m not promoting any of those farms. If you want to believe it is not happening and only rumor, your choice.

field mouse
Guest
field mouse
7 years ago

Drug education and prevention programs.

Mark
Guest
Mark
7 years ago

Let’s give something for the children to do! I have a boy and there’s nothing for him to do when schools out

Mark
Guest
Mark
7 years ago

Waterpark perhaps amusement park

Rizzo Bank Roller
Guest
Rizzo Bank Roller
7 years ago

Support your royalty. Increase government employee pensions and benefits.

Money Penny
Guest
Money Penny
7 years ago

How about spend it like you didn’t earn it!!!

Maniac
Guest
Maniac
7 years ago

I want it!

Someone
Guest
Someone
7 years ago

Give it to the schools. Southern humboldt is in desperate need of schooling for young children with asd and many other learning disabilities. There are many families who require these services for their children that simply dont have access to them.