NOVATO, Calif. - Novato city street maintenance workers, building inspectors, park and recreation coordinators, and city planners went on strike Tuesday over contract negotiations and staffing shortages. They say the city is not dedicating to workers additional revenue generated by Measure M, an increase in a sales tax that voters approved in November.

According to the city's website, the measure's rise in sales tax from 8.5% to 9.25% should generate $10 million annually and help the city mend its $4 million budget deficit through the 2025/2026 fiscal year. Novato has cut city staffing by over 30 positions to manage a growing budget deficit, the city's site said, and one-time COVID-19 federal recovery funding that helped protect essential services has been depleted.

"The city has faile

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