If you are a regular citizen you know government can not be trusted. When they tell you how money will be spent, do not believe them. Guv Brown begged for $6 billion a year in new taxes—for the schools. $3.5 billion of that instead went to salaries and benefits for State workers and $1.5 billion went to CalPERS—a little over a billion went to schools—other monies were found to go to schools as well—but Prop.30 money proved to be fungible.
Stockton and Modesto are begging for money—read the fine print—it is NOT going for law enforcement. My good friend Joan Trombetta Clendenin wrote this piece. And I will be speaking at the Central Committee fund raiser on Saturday October 26 in the evening in Modesto. Looking forward to seeing my great friends.
Modesto voters should say NO to Measure X.
Joan Trombetta Clendenin, Exclusive to the California Political News and Views, 10/24/13
Two years ago Oakdale voters passed a “general tax” advertised, just like Measure X, as if it were a “special” safety tax.. Already there is talk of laying off police officers. I beg you, read your voter pamphlet. The city attorney wrote on page 31: “Because this measure does not legally restrict the use of tax revenue to any specific purposes, it is classified as a “general tax” and not a “specific tax.”
We are assured that it’s okay to pass Measure X because it includes a Citizens Oversight Committee. Again, read the voter guide[pp. 33 – 36]. This committee serves “at the pleasure of” the council that appoints its members.
The annual audit is supposed to give taxpayers some assurance that the additional $26 M is properly spent only assures that the dollars are being spent to conform to the “spending priorities adopted by Resolution of the City Council” [p.35]. Early on the mayor suggested that a super majority vote to change the spending mix would give voters more confidence in the future. The finance committee voted to recommend this to the full council but you won’t find any mention of a super majority in this 3,926 word resolution.
The police chief told the finance committee that none of the Measure X dollars would go to increased salaries for current or future officers. When their current contracts expire and the city makes an offer the police union doesn’t like, the city’s “binding arbitration” ordinance means that if the union asks for a 10% salary and fringe benefit increase and the city offers 3%, the arbiters could split the difference awarding 5-7%. Why do you think the police and fire unions are funding the “Yes on X” campaign?
When voters in Stockton go to the polls next month they will vote on 2 measures; a 3/4 cent general tax and “non-binding advisory measure” so voter can send a message to the council about where they expect the increased revenue to be spent. Why don’t we have the same opportunity to express our will?
Instead of a well thought out safety tax that would require a 2/3rds voter approval, the council rushed to get something on this November’s ballot. The question now is: Do you trust that city leaders “yet to come” will keep the promises made by the present council members?
