| City tax riddle to guide our vote. |
The task force made its first recommendation to City Council last Wednesday. It unanimously recommended City Council approve a one-half-cent sales tax increase and put it on the June ballot for voters to consider. If voters pass it, the increase in the sales tax is expected to generate $865,000 per year. It requires a simple majority, 50 percent plus one vote, to win. The task force set $700,000 per year for five years, a total of $3.5 million, as its goal to balance the budget and create a 10 percent operating reserve. At a future meeting, the task force is expected to develop a "Plan B" to tell voters what could be cut if the tax doesn't pass. The next meeting is this evening, Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the community room at the police department.
"We are trying to save the city," said task force member Susan Getchell Wallace. The 1500 or so people who responded to the survey indicated their preferences for potential taxes and/or potential cuts to city services.Sixty percent indicated approval for a half-cent sales tax increase." Read more, including results of the small sample citizen survey if interested.
Tax model for Pacifica reference: Popeye Taxman, 1:16 minutes, video.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
53 comments:
Doesn't Council have to unanimously vote to put this tax on the June ballot? How likely is that to happen in an election year?
Wish they'd quit screwing around and do their due diligence on contracting with the SMC Sheriffs. They should have already had full financial info as well as input from other cities who chose the sheriffs. Instead we get an embarassingly lame survey and that group therapy session at the community center. Are they incompetent or just running their games as usual?
We are trying to save the city. Really? Hippies Really??
30 years too late.
a big NO vote
What a big joke this whole process has been. A rigged task force. A rigged poll. No information provided.
Now instead of cutting their own inflated wages and benefits they want to saddle Pacifica with the yoke of a higher sales tax than any other local city. Where do you think people are going to buy big ticket items here or Daly City?
It's time to end this. Recall Vreeland, cut all city wages by 1% for each 10K, stop all overtime, trim the police dept way down etc etc etc.
Email the city council and tell them we don't need more taxes. We need to make more cuts in wages and benefits and bring Pacifica employees more in line with what we the people who pay them receive.
LenStonePacifica@gmail.com
nihartm@ci.pacifica.ca.us
Make your voice heard write a strong letter to the editor of the Pacifica Tribune.
use this email: elarsen@bayareanewsgroup.com
If you email city council, they will throw the note away and the general public will never see it. If you write to the tribune, thousands of people will see it.
The survey on service cuts and taxes is fake. Anyone in the US could vote and I imagine various special interest groups got all their friends all over the country to vote.
Non-Pacifica voters could vote. Folks who never will pay any Pacifica taxes, who have never even been in Pacifica voted.
And this silly committee is using those fake survey results to raise your taxes.
Good point about the council ignoring our letters. I have messaged council members and never heard back. The only problem is the Tribune only has limited space. Maybe a letter to the council and CC to the Trib might get their attention more.
anon953 what are you smokin? We don't sell any big ticket items in Pacifica...unless you count your grocery bill. No good choices but at least a sales tax hits more than property owners. However, I agree wholeheartedly with your final paragraph. Letter to the Tribune and cc to council, all five of them.
Tribune readership about 4000 maybe a little less. Pacifica almost 40,000 residents and about 21,000 registered voters.
I doubt this sales tax idea will even clear Council to get to the June ballot. Takes a unanimous vote to get it on anything but a general election ballot(November). Nihart and DeJarnatt are up for re-election this year. Do you think they want this tax thing tied around their necks?
anon139 really? a conspiracy? I do agree there was a special interest group in play. Seniors were heavily represented at the forum
and probably in the survey as well. The results are skewed. However, even in the best scenario that survey is too small a sample to be the basis of Pacifica's fiscal policy. Should any survey? Of course not. So of course in Pacifica a flawed survey circulated by a puppet task force has become the basis of our latest fiscal policy. We're still not being serious about this mess. What's it going to take?
I'd expect Council to put the tax on the ballot. They'll say the citizens of Pacifica have a right to vote on it.
And the sales tax will be spun as the "Keep the Pacifica Police Department" tax.
What are the odds of people forcing the city into redoing the poll and including cuts to city workers wages and trim down the police force this time? They have too many employees. I think they are almost half our budget. But who knows because the city doesn't give us any numbers.
Yeah I agree Steve, The council will vote to put the tax on the ballot to "let us decide".
Unless we can "persuade" at least one of them to vote against it.
I get the feeling the people supporting the tax are backing off as are the council with their statements defending current wages and benefits.
We must keep up the pressure!
Write a letter today elarsen@bayareanewsgroup.com
Bet your ass this tax will be spun as "Save Your Local PD" and the cops have already said they'll lead the campaign and the tax will probably pass with them out front in uniform. That sales tactic is exactly why at least a couple of councilmembers are very nervous about the whole thing. They know this tax alone isn't enough to save anything for very long. Other painful cuts will still be needed. And then imagine the outrage when the PD is outsourced anyway in a year or two and we're still paying the freakin' tax. These mewling, spineless fools will gut this city all the while claiming they only did what the people wanted. Where's the due diligence? Ask them why they stalled until now to get the numbers they need to evaluate a contract with the Sheriffs Dept. Senior city staff has said unofficially that a contract with the sheriffs could save us a minimum of 1.5 million per year. Negotiate a 5 year contract and save 7.5 million. That info should have been presented to the us. What other option presents those kinds of numbers? None and yet this option has been ignored. And for the nervous nellies who worry about how the sheriffs would fit in in Pacifica, are you crazy? The county window is not open indefinitely. Supervisor Groom has said they can handle one or two more cities and then that option is gone. Think about two years down the road and we still can't afford our PD and the sheriffs are no longer available. What then? Hire Wackenhut? Oh yeah, they'll fit in perfectly.
Half-Moon bay went through transitioning their local force to the County Sheriff -- a year ago?
What did the community think about it at the time and what do they think about it now?
Anyone have the scoop? I occassionally read the HMB Review, but don't know the answer.
We can afford our PD alright. Just not 30 cops making up to $170K.
We just need to make deeper cuts to pay and benefits and lay off a few. Cut their budget and ban overtime.
How is it we have more police then we've ever had and they're still all working tons of overtime?
Cops without OT? Not happening with this chummy little group. It's built-in to pad those base salaries and offered by seniority because it's so lucrative.
No, we can't afford them and why try at the expense of other services? Local police depts are quickly becoming dinosaurs. Check out the county sheriffs before it's too late. It works for other cities because it saves them money and the service is very good. It'll be the same faces and the lower-ranks will be smiling big.
anon 717, it's called a gravy train and it needs to be derailed for good.
Fogel, unless someone is in frequent contact with law enforcement I doubt they even notice the difference. Lots of friends in HMB and no complaints. The sheriff's already had a respected presence south of the slide and that helped probably. Here we see a few of them at the beach during the 4th of July artillery barrage.
The city isn't going to consider the sheriff option.
And there's no reason to cut any services.
We have a payroll problem. We need to cut wages and benefits. Not programs for needy Pacificans.
Anon@9:03, Curious as to why you think the city won't even consider the sheriffs? It's obvious the city and task force have dropped the ball in making inquiries but that's standard with this bunch. Do you have another answer?
It was reported in the Tribune this week that the police outsourcing option was shot down on the all mighty survey.
I believe they only out it on the ballot to scare us into biting the tax hook.
Bottom line, there's no need for any cuts in service, money for the poor or increase taxes just to pay outrageous salaries and benefits.
Pay More Taxes and Save Our Assess!
You'll hear it soon sung by the boys in blue in front of Safeway.
Oops that Cop Chorus...Pay More Taxes and Save Our Asses!
Started my superbowl roll early.
"What did the community think about it at the time and what do they think about it now?"
The S.M.Co.Times reported last year that despite all the cuts and outsourcing in HMB, they will be in deficit again by 2014. It's payroll, as usual.
The Times has been gutted by staff cuts due to decreased ad revenues and stupid management, (surprise!) so don't count on any more reporting to tell you what's going on.
HMB is even more screwed-up than Pacifica despite a charming downtown and some industry. Mind-boggling concept, I know. Still, it's pretty clear the Pacifica gravy train is running out of track. Also clear there's no one at the controls. Survey says?
I just sent a letter to some local news agencies asking them to investigate "Bell like" goings on in Pacifica.
Send an email too:
newstips@ktvu.com
theunit@nbcbayarea.com
feedback@nbcbayarea.com
metro@sfchronicle.com
What are the "Bell like" goings on in Pacifica?
What do mean by "investigate Bell like goings on in Pacifica"?
You'll see
What are the "Bell like" goings on in Pacifica? (Anon 2/6, 915)
Answer: None. Bell, California has some serious salary and cozy relationship irregularities. See Bloomberg 7/20/10, and other accounts. (In the past, we've re-posted and linked related articles here on FP, another reason to look outside Pacifica's boundries for comparisons and answers).
Ah, Pacifica. Maybe the inability or lack of will by 10 year city council to develop and advance a
balanced gateway-to-the-coast city is more like vision and planning by Beavis and Butt-Head: "Our environment is our economy". Except, of course, rather than 2 members, city council majority is 3, and the 2 others seem to want to "make nice". Meantime, this city countinues to deteriorate.
How about a former police chief retiring with over $300K a year? How about council voting themselves the highest salary in the county and protecting their "friends" by misleading the public with a rigged survey and no data about employee salaries? How about allowing over inflated salaries in one of the least wealthy towns in San Mateo then not being forthcoming when asked for data from the public? How about one council members absence for months while still collecting salary and benefits?
Want more?
Illegal? Probably not.
Anon (156), which police chief retired with a $25,000 per month pension ($300,000 per year)?
Bell City Manager salary was almost $800,000. Pacifica City Manager salary is lowest in the county. Bell Council member salaries were almost $100,000. Pacifica Council salaries are less than $10,000. Bell Police Chief made $457,000, more than the Los Angeles Police Chief. Good luck getting the news media to investigate the "Bell like goings on" in Pacifica.
Approximately 1/3 of HMB's budget goes towards paying off Chop Keenan. The no-growth group down there got the city to block his development, and the Chopster took the city to court and won big.
Now the "we're at one with the earth" crowd is doing it to Pacifica.
To those of you saying it's too late. Development won't get us out of this mess. You're right ........
for now.
The NIMBY's have been sowing the seeds of this municipal meltdown for the past 30 years. Now they hide behind global economic woes and focus council's attention on service cuts, more taxation and managed retreat.
Good stuff if you're a frog.
We need to plan for our recovery. Pacifica is a very desireable and incredibly convenient tourist destination. This wake over a dying town was completely avoidable. If term limits had been approved 20 years ago we would not be in this mess today.
Council, do your job and remove Vreeland for being a no show.
Voters, don't even consider DeJarnatte for re-election and thank Sue for being a nice person and giving it an honest effort.
Vote for leaders who are willing to stand up to the enviro-bullies and who have a positive vision that embraces a beautiful Pacifica, a better quality of life and prosperity to maintain it.
It's never too late to lay the groundwork for a better future.
Relax, city officials. You have nothing to fear from the law because incompetence isn't illegal.
And a lack of backbone just makes you more flexible when those moral and political dilemmas occur, right? You've actually made yourselves indistinguishable and irrelevant. What could be safer?
Re the elusive Vreeland,
The actual choices still haven't changed. The public can either Recall Vree or keep hoping he runs up four consecutive unexcused absences in a 60 day period. At that point I believe a resident can raise the issue at a City Council meeting. Wouldn't that be an interesting meeting? Whether an absence is excused or unexecused is a matter of public record.
There is sympathy for Vreeland and not much chance with either choice.
"Bell Police Chief made $457,000"
And our last one made over $300,000.
Not that far off.
Who's doing the recalling, you? There's another group that may want to recall all 3 worthy slackers: Vreeland, DeJarnatt and Digre. Why are you not talking to them, or will you run your own Recall?
I'v seen that $300K pay for the old Chief posted before. Don't know if it's true.
This was posted on Riptide by Eric S.
"Consider the previous police chief, who got paid more than $300,000 in his final year. Then he got a pension based on his final pay with spiking. Now he will get this huge pension for life."
$300K is approaching the Bell police chiefs pay.
Also I think council gets more than $10K with benefits and expenses.
The fact that Vreeland is allowed to remain and collect any money is sad.
When's that recall? Can't happen in the last 6 mnths of an incumbent's term so time's real short on Pete. Recalling the others? They were just re-elected 13 months ago. Not that much has changed. Let's hope Pete retires in Novemeber, collects his pension, and the enviro's candidate loses and the balance of power shifts.
HMB is going to be in trouble as long as they owe Chop Keenan.
Not sure if that $300,000 number is correct for chief's salary. Doubtful, and certainly not reported as that on the State Controller's website for 2010 or the Tribune's recent 2011 list. Those numbers are $164,287 and $160,384, respectively, which looks odd but we did change chiefs somewhere along the way. The pension calc for the position is 3%@50 multiplied by years of service and based on the final year's earnings. Using either of the reported numbers and 30 years of service the chief's pension would be about $14,500 per month. Very generous but nowhere near $25,000 per month. Still, I want to doublecheck that 2011 number for spiking once the State Controller posts 2011 later this year. Like Reagan told the previous Russians, "Trust but verify".
I loved how Reagan kept repeating that to Gorbachev.
"doveryai, no proverya"
Anonymous said...
When's that recall?
The Recall will be televised
Do you mean presented at a council meeting? Better hurry. PCT is on council's chopping block. You better believe they don't want any cameras around when they're in session.
Remember to fill out a yellow card.
Therese Dyer has some updated information about the recall. Please support the effort.
You can email Therese at theresedyer1932@gmail.com
They need help with everything from putting up signs to gathering signatures.
Let's do this Pacifica!
Wow, the task force reaches out to educate the public with the open house and survey. First attempt in a long time and you each turn it into something sinister. Wow just wow. Who are the paranoid crazy people now? Seems they are not in Russia any more.
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