February 19, 1999
Out of curiosity, I checked the California Statistical Abstract for 1997-1998 to get the budgets of San Diego County plus all the cities in the county. The conservative budget total is over $4.3 billion, including outdated budgets listed from 1995.
The Prop L sales tax increase will provide $85 million per year for the eight public library systems in the county. But it takes less than a 2 percent reallocation from our present local budgets to provide this same amount of funding. Surely there is a 2% that can be saved through better management, or 2% that can be transferred from lower priority projects such as the BALLPARK.
So, do we need a tax increase? Not if the politicians would simply handle our money better!
Max Newbury
Lakeside, Ca
Max@mistermax.com
(Comment: Question asked /Question answered. It is unfortunate that no one on the City Council of San Diego or the Mayor, or for that fact from the other 15 municipalities that signed on to Prop L before thinking it through, didn't have a degree in economics 1A. The County and their VODOO economics pushed this on a fast track on la Chargers and Padre Stadium scenario hoping to steam roll the voters into supporting this red herring. But others just like you are now wising to this boondoggle. Pass the word on your E-mail to your local Buddy list and help us stop this rip-off.)
WHY ARE WE HAVING A COSTLY $1.7 MILLION DOLLAR ELECTION?
A major September 22, 1997 Union-Tribune article headlined "Library Advocates plan new tax vote." Yes, I said in 1997. So, why did we have to hold a costly $1.7 million March 1999 special election??
The politicians wanted the voters to believe the Convention Center expansion and the new ballpark would not raise taxes… And now that the city ids deeper in the hole than before, the politicians come back with the tax increase.
More important, proponents want a very low voter turnout. They are hoping that this single-issue election will have no more than 20% turnout. With a small turnout they can muster the special interests to go to the polls. They can target their slick mailers exclusively to the high propensity voters and big government supporters. This election is an explicitly anti-democratic effort to pass what a larger voter turnout would not support.
The worst part is that if successful, we will see more and more tax increase votes moved too easily manipulated election dates.
I'M VOTING "NO" ON L AND `NO' ON UNNECESSARY, EXPENSIVE, RIGGED SPECIAL ELECTIONS!
Mary Szterpkiewicz
Escondido, CA.
(Comment: Unfortunately those in the opposition do not have the money for mounting a propaganda effort like the developers who can hardly wait to get that construction money out of this kitty as if Prop MM wasn't enough to satisfy their greed).
What is the so-call Transactional Tax???
Prop L is going to add a 1/4-cent on all transactional sales. Just what is going to be taxed? It is easier to say what isn't going to be taxed:
Motel/hotel rooms/ Rent
Food sold by the major food chains
Lawyers services
Accountants Services
Goods purchased from out of state.
Goods, services sold on the Internet.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS GOING TO HAVE A TAX INCREASE!
Have you figured out what the tax will be on your next car, loan mortgage, food bought at our favorite Taco shop, Old Town Restaurant, or for that matter on your next trip to Horton Plaza to your favorite clothing store… THEY ARE ALL TRANSACTIONS.
You get the picture. Add it up... Your local politicians have just sent you a Christmas present in March.
Luis Gomez
Chula Vista
(Comment: Amen you got it brother. It is "Stick it to the working people month" at the 15 city halls around the county that supported this rip off. Talk about being out of touch.)
(Special to our Web site buddies and E-Mail sites. Help the effort and place this column and all others on your web sites. Let Foggy Bottom at city hall know the power of the Techno Nerds!)
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