Grand Terrace City Council candidate Jeremy C. Briggs has a clear message for voters: City government should examine its spending, improve communication with residents, and make public safety a priority before asking taxpayers for additional money.
What remains less certain is how quickly those proposals could become reality.
In an extended interview with City News Group Publisher Margie Miller, Briggs spoke openly about his concerns regarding Measure N, his experience on the Planning Commission, and his belief that the city needs new leadership.
His answers offered insight into both his priorities and the challenges he would face if elected.
Briggs' strongest position concerns the proposed 1% sales tax.
Measure N would generate approximately $1.2 million annually for Grand Terrace's General Fund. The revenue could be used for law enforcement, infrastructure, and other municipal purposes.
Briggs believes the city should instead pursue a special tax legally dedicated to law enforcement.
His argument centers on the possibility that General Fund revenue could be redirected to other projects, even if voters supported the measure primarily because they wanted additional public safety services.
That concern is not without a factual foundation: A general tax does not legally guarantee that its proceeds will fund additional deputies.
"Under California's general rules for city-proposed taxes, a special tax requires approval from two-thirds of voters and can only be used for the purpose intended, while a general tax requires a simple majority and becomes part of the general fund and can be allocated for any purpose." said Briggs
The city's June 2026 discussions included polling suggesting that a general tax might attract sufficient support while a special tax would face a more difficult path.
Briggs believes additional community education and organizing could change that outcome.
Whether that belief would translate into enough votes remains untested.
The city has already experienced one unsuccessful attempt to secure approval for a similar general tax. Measure M failed in November 2024, receiving 48.15% support.
Briggs' preferred approach therefore raises an important question: Would voters who rejected a general tax be more willing to approve a dedicated public safety tax, even though it would require a substantially larger majority?
Briggs has proposed examining city spending as another way to address financial pressures.
Asked to identify specific expenses he would reconsider, he mentioned benches, fountains, surveys, and smaller improvement projects.
He also questioned the cost of certain expenditures that he believes deserves closer review.
When asked whether he had examined the city's budget line by line, Briggs answered, "I haven't done it line by line."
He said his professional experience managing towing operations, budgets, and employees would help him undertake that work.
Briggs has identified the direction he wants to pursue, but the interview did not establish a fully costed plan.
Briggs served on the Grand Terrace Planning Commission from 2019 to 2021.
He discussed commercial development reviews and projects involving neighborhood concerns, traffic, and land use.
He also acknowledged that his commission experience did not include as many substantial decisions as he would have liked.
That desire to take on broader responsibilities helped motivate his candidacy.
Briggs spoke respectfully about his opponent, Doug Wilson, describing him as knowledgeable and expressing interest in maintaining a positive relationship.
He framed the election as a choice between continued experience and a different approach to city government.
However, a council member's ability to deliver results depends partly on securing support from colleagues.
When asked what he would do if other council members opposed his proposals, Briggs said he would continue explaining his positions and seeking support.
"For me, it would be a fight," he said.
He also expressed willingness to reconsider when legitimate legal or community concerns were raised.
That willingness to engage could become an asset. Whether it would produce consensus on controversial financial issues remains to be seen.
Briggs' public safety proposals include additional law enforcement coverage, improved neighborhood lighting, and safer walking routes.
He identified dark residential streets and incomplete sidewalks as concerns, particularly where students and families travel.
Briggs said his goal is to secure an additional deputy and demonstrate measurable progress within his first years in office.
"My goal is to have the extra deputy," he told Miller.
That promise creates a clear benchmark, although the outcome would depend on available funding, law enforcement contracting arrangements, and council approval.
One of Briggs' most consistent themes was communication.
He said he wants residents to understand city decisions before those decisions are finalized.
He proposed using social media, community conversations, and local newspapers to explain complex issues.
He also supported greater financial oversight involving residents with relevant professional experience.
These ideas could strengthen public engagement, but transparency is not solely a matter of how often elected officials communicate.
It also depends on access to accurate records, timely explanations, open decision-making, and consistent reporting of results.
Briggs intends to demonstrate those practices if elected.
Briggs describes himself as an ordinary resident seeking to improve his community.
He said he has lived in Grand Terrace since 2012, raised children locally, and participated in youth coaching.
His connection to the community helps explain why he wants to serve.
The more difficult question for voters is whether his experience, proposals, and willingness to challenge existing practices are sufficient preparation for the responsibilities of City Council.
His criticism of Measure N presents a substantive policy disagreement. His willingness to acknowledge gaps in his budget review experience provides additional information about his current preparation. Briggs has made his priorities clear.