Measure K - Bad Timing, Bad Idea

Timing is everything.  And it looks like the timing of the upcoming Measure K – Utility Tax in Citrus Heights is turning into a prime opportunity for renewed interest in City Council.  Bret Daniels (the candidate who won’t give up) says he’s running because he opposes this tax and the “City has a $33m surplus.”  Even after serving on the council, Mr. Daniels still can’t get it right.  It’s a reserve Bret, not a surplus – big difference.  In any case, the surplus is not the pivotal issue with regard to the utility tax. 

The issue is fourfold - and if candidates hope to have a chance of getting voted in this season - they'd better pay attention.  #1 - Crime is down.  Why would you tag a tax to our utilities to increase police services after years of bragging about decreasing crime?  #2 - Roads.  With the recession the cost to do road work is way down.  Yes, losing redevelopment money has caused a shift in the CH budget - but taxing utilities is not the answer.  #3 - Hiring a dedicated officer to run a non-profit.  The Police Athletic League (PAL) is great in theory - however, if it cannot stand on its own two feet like other non-profits in the City are required to do (or apply for grant funding) then it might just go away. If it is so important, then it's time to ramp up the fundraising. There are potential Brown Act implications as well if the City provides paid staff and a council member sits on the board – all meetings and agendas will need to be noticed (talk about an increase in cost) and the activities and meetings will need to be open to the general public. 

To commandeer my tax dollars, taking opportunity away from my family and my kids to give to a non-profit, is unethical.  My family supports quite a few non-profits in our community, region, nation and world.  These choices are made deliberately, with great thought and sacrifice.  I'd like to have a say in where my contributions go - not be taxed to make them.

And the final and most critical issue, and frankly if some of the candidate’s don’t see this, they don't deserve to be on council: #4, earmarking where the taxes are spent.  We have watched as this method of creating tax silos has driven our state into financial ruin.  It is one of the causes behind San Juan School District spending over 90% of its budget on salary and benefits.  Now Citrus Heights - formally top-level fiscally run Citrus Heights - is going to follow this bad example? 

I get that they need something to market the tax; police and roads are the only obvious emotional choices - since we don't run schools.  This is a huge mistake.  Tagging the tax to our utilities, that's just plain rude.  A few influential folks in town have come out in favor of this tax.  They haven't thought it all the way through.  Some of the candidates running this November are talking about it - now it’s time to think it all the way through.  It should be defeated.  We gave our taxes to the County so we could become a City (brush up on revenue neutrality before you go to the polls http://www.cp-dr.com/node/1613).  We’re coming down to the wire – if we needed a small tax to help get us through this next season – it should have been presented up front with transparency, no marketing gimmicks, and no ties to utilities. 

Send our council and City Manager back to the drawing board, they can do better.