Taxes rise along coastal cities 

Beginning April 1, sales taxes in the cities of San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and Morro Bay are rising by a half-percent. The cities will soon be presenting their plans for how to spend the expected booty, and interests have already lined up to stake their claimed share.

Want to help the politicians keep their promises? Here, according to the ballot language, is what voters were told the money was for:

Grover Beach: The money will be used " to help preserve the safety and character of Grover Beach by funding essential services, including the Police and Fire Departments, repair potholes and fix city streets and sidewalks, increase recreation opportunities for seniors and youth, improve city parks and beach access, and other general city services."

Total expected: $480,000 per year.

Margin of approval: 56 to 44 percent

Arroyo Grande: The money will "address important needs" such as transportation projects, including an upgrade of the Brisco/Halcyon interchange infrastructure improvements, including the street, drainage, and creek systems public safety needs, including police and fire department facilities, equipment, and staffing and city facility upgrades to meet Americans with Disability Act requirements.

Total expected: $1.5 million per year.

Margin of approval: 14 votes

San Luis Obispo: The money will restore neighborhood services, such as street paving and pothole repair, restore cut fire and police positions, fund flood protection and storm drain repair, provide services for seniors, and restore funding for open space protection and acquisition.

Total expected: About $4.5 million per year.

Margin of approval: 65 to 35 percent

Morro Bay: The money will replace the aging and damaged fire station equip firefighters and paramedics with emergency equipment and protective clothing repair and maintain city streets renovate and staff the North Morro Bay fire station maintain city buildings, parks, and restrooms repair storm drains to "prevent toxic runoff into the bay" and restore after-school programs.

Total expected: $750,000 per year

Margin of approval: 65 percent to 35 percent.