City of Decoto

On March 27, 1946, a town meeting was called in Decoto for a "discussion on the pros and cons of incorporating the town." The Decoto Chamer of Commerce, hosts of the event, had a subcommittee for incorporation of "Decoto, El Progesso Del Pueblo", or "Decoto, the progressive town." The town meeting was led by Anthony Bautista, the Decoto Theater manager, and was attended by forty local men of "Anglo-Saxon origin; Puerto Rican origin, of Portuguese origin, of Spanish and Mexican origin." It was reported that a few women were in attendance, but "not many women walk through the Medievally dark streets of Decoto as late as 7:30, except in groups or with their men."

At the meeting the costs of being a City were discussed. Manuel Seaone presented details on the costs of two police officers, a police car, a small jail, four laborers for a street department, and general administration costs. It was reported that taxes alone could not pay for these items, so a bond measure would have to go to the voters.

Part of the reason for seeking incorporation was the perception of Decoto being ignored by the County Supervisors. Bautista said that "Decoto pays taxes with the other people of the township, but Decoto does not receive benefits in proportion to her population." He went on to state that "Decoto, with the largest population in the township, has not received a single street light since 1912."

After the meeting, the subcommittee passed around the petition for incorporation. They were able to secure enough signatures to meet the need of 25 percent of the property owners. The petition was turned into the County Supervisors, but it was rejected by them as insufficient in both the signature and the proposed boundaries of Decoto. The last article on the subject was December 6, 1946. There does not appear to be any further mention of the subject after that.