Pacifica Tribune/guest columnist, 10/22/13. "Money Matters Column: the Measure V dilemma" by Marie Martin
| The city is poor, no effort to fix, pay the General Fund again |
.... "What makes this tough is
that Measure V was not well thought out. Larger families will be
penalized because the larger the family, the more items taxed. There
should've been a maximum of two lines per family taxed. Another
problem is the money goes into the general fund. When I hear that I
remember the Fire Department. The phrase "Fool me once, shame on you;
fool me twice, shame on me" pops into my head.
.... I assumed this tax was
replacing the UUT on our PG&E bills, which I had been told long ago
was a temporary tax. I called PG&E to ask them when it phases out.
The representative said the tax began in 1983 with no designated end
date. Thirty years! I assume the tax was put in place during an
economically tough time, but there were abundant years and the tax
wasn't eliminated." Read article.
Note: Old Monopoly card illustration from Adena.com.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
67 comments:
I have three kids, all have cells and none are old enough to vote. They get taxed. I see school bd member Richard Faust thinks this taxing of school age kids is a good idea. He really should stick to school issues.
"No taxation without representation." That phrase was a cornerstone of the beginnings of American democracy. Now, some two hundred plus years later. our leaders need to be reminded about that phrase. Just look at your current property tax bill and see all the supplemental taxes that have been added. If you're a Pacifica resident, you at least get a vote. If you're an out-of-town property owner, you don't get any say whether a tax is passed or not. That in itself is also "taxation without representation."
call out both school boards for tax support. Faust isn't the only one. The entire PSD board and two from Jeff think grabbing any kid with a cell for this tax is OK. Wait until a parent of a ten year old gets the bill. Maybe parents should deduct the cell tax bill from the next school fundraiser...
1 mail in ballot received and returned with a No on V today. Thought it was interesting that the description of the measure on the actual ballot, right above the yes and no boxes, did not include the duration of the tax. No mention of how long it would be in effect. Space limitations, an odd oversight, or what?
241 Just another example of Pacifica's most dynamic demographic, the tax cadre. They stick together and support each other's ballot measures. And how clever of we taxpayers to put 2 former school board members and the queen of school tax measure fund raising, Nihart, on Council. Do you think they learned a few tricks on the school board? Maybe met a few campaign and poll consultants?
New town motto? Welcome to Pacifica--Prepare to Pay!
funny there's no volunteers on the Yes sides calendar except Ervin etc.. But some funny comments http://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=s.signupform&urlid=30E0E4FA4AE29A57-volunteer
Some of the contributors to the Yes on V side. Is there really any question who will benefit from this tax?
Teamsters Local #350 for $1,500, IBEW Local Union #617 for $3,000, Labor Union 467 for $2,000, Local Union 350 Managers for $1,500, CAAPAC for $500, Drive Committee for $3,000. SMC Central Labor Council for $250, EMS Management for $2,500
Hutch, you mean the private sector, aka the "business community" right? (I.e. the owners and workers of construction businesses utilizing union labor).
It's called back scratching. You help me get mine and I'll help you get yours. It thoroughly corrupted the American Labor Movement.
348 You worried about them? Don't be. They've got plenty of help whether or not they appear on some list. Plenty of endorsements and the money and volunteers that came with.
Police Association has donated $1,500 to Yes on V. Is that for construction jobs too?
Did anyone notice that Horsley also contributed to the effort to shove this tax down our throats? That, along with his sleazy attempt to renege on his "no salary" campaign promise, should ensure that he never receives another Pacifican vote.
And you people thought Horsley was going to be Pacificas, savior.
Horsley, Ervin, Stone, Nihart, Hill, Mullin all donated $
Notice Mike O'Neill is missing from this stinky piece of crap. He's got my vote again.
Why is anyone surprised by who is supporting this scam? In all the hoopla about this "New" Council we overlooked the lengthy resumes of these people. Full of warning signs. This is what they are about. It's Measure V today, Measure V.2 tomorrow, and a library bond and on and on and on.
This is their vision of Pacifica. Nothing wrong with the vision except that the taxpayers are the only revenue source these folks will develop. Did they ever say they'd do it differently? I don't think so, but we're so desperate for change we heard what we wanted to hear and put a bunch of tax and spenders in charge. They're just doing what comes natural.
Actually I do recall Stone saying the D-word in some council meeting when he said we needed 6 or 7 projects that would produce as much revenue as the library project is imagined to bring in
($500K). Of course we have none and even the library/council chamber project is nothing but hype. Nothing but hype and not that different from the old Vreeland Council Chamber project. The library with council chamber can and probably will be built independent of hotel, condos, shops. It could very well be the only thing built there. Package it right and you can sell the public anything. My God, it's a library.
I live in Daly City, but come to Pacifica to shop at Fresh n Easy, as they carry British food.
Yes, I'm a Brit.
Seen the signs, RE: NO ON V, THE PHONE TAX.
Yet looking at the Web Page, gives me only scant information.
Are the Council trying to charge you for having a phone???
Perhaps you can let me know, as it intrigues myself and my wife.
Freedom of Speech, Written in The American Constitution, are the Council now trying to tax this???
Thank You.
I have to confess I was an ardent supporter of Measure V. Not anymore. No, not because of who is supporting measure v and how it will help Pacifica. It is because my health ins has been cancelled and is slated to triple once I purchase it through the Ca Exchange. I am truly concerned for my financial future and paying my mortgage. I have informed my Bank Mort Dept of this increase in my health and asked them how are other family's supposed to afford this once the 2014 Health Tax and thousands of new regulations hit the employer health ins. I just can not see supporting this measure anymore. Good Luck.
The No on V Facebook page is locked up. Meaning, if your not on Facebook you can not see it.
The city and yes on V campaign has little information online or anywhere about what it's about. They want to keep people in the dark and confused.
Yes this is a 6.5% tax the city is trying to add to our home and cell phones.
We have more information about it from many sources on our Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/DefeatPhoneTax
The Yes on V people had a secret meeting in Rockaway Beach last night.
623 your comment sounds like Tea Party logic, and doesn't make sense. Good luck.
Pacifica Index has an entire page devoted to Measure V. I've tried, to the best of my ability, to collect as many Measure V materials as I could.
Pacifica Index - Measure V
855 so???
6:43 AM Said "The No on V Facebook page is locked up. Meaning, if your not on Facebook you can not see it."
Sorry but that's just not true. Our Facebook group is public and anyone can see it even if they are not a member. I do however have a short list of measure V supporters blocked. Are you one of them?
www.facebook.com/groups/DefeatPhoneTax
Thank you Chris. The more information that's out there the better. I didn't see the yes sides contributors listed. Maybe you didn't get to it yet.
You've provided a valuable information resource to our community Chris Fogel!!! I'm posting your 9:15 AM link to Pacifica Index as an article now.
Hutch
Try to google your facebook page.
I can't get to the No on V Facebook page.
I deleted my Facebook account awhile ago.
Maybe if you're not on Facebook you can't see it?
Just checked my security settings and it's set to public.
Can you see other groups Steve?
I am a Kaiser Health Ins. Policy Holder. Not anymore. How are we supposed to afford this new health ins. through Ca Exchange. I am not rich. I am not in a union job. I am not in government. I am not poor.
NO ON V.
I JUST CANT SUPPORT ANYMORE TAXES UNTIL I FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR THIS NEW COSTLY HEALTH INSURANCE.
Interesting approach. You have to use what's available to make your point.
1234 obviously you're in pain. What were your Kaiser monthly premiums vs. the new 2014 Affordable Care monthly premiums?
Be specific, number and ages of family members on your plan? Which Kaiser plan did you have? What was the co-pay vs. the new 2014 plan offer?
What is your household income, do you qualify for the subsidy? Is your zip code 94044?
Once you disclose these details, I'll check your calculation. Your experience is unusual.
The cell phone/telecommunications tax must be very small by comparison with the "costly" Affordable Care health insurance.
Now that's outrageous. No on V is being hijacked by the critics of Obamacare. It is a hijack right? Couldn't be some amateurish piggyback strategy, right? And I voted no.
When she's good, she's very good.
I'm not a tea bagger but I thought Obama care was supposed to lower older (50+) people by 15% starting Jan 2014? Just found out my 3500 deductible plan is going up over $100 a month to $775. Nice.
Kathy, do you really believe a poster would give that info? Why don't you believe them?
Just to be clear, our group is not using Obama-Care to strengthen our position. We are made up of people on all sides of that and most every issue.
Merv,
Interesting that someone from Daly City would be so upset by a UUT on telecommunications in Pacifica. Currently Daly City has a UUT on their gas, electric, telecommunications AND their cable. Maybe you should be complaining to your own council and citizens who approved it. http://www.uutinfo.org/uutinfo_city_info/daly_city/uutinfo_daly_city.htm
11 Days to go. Squirrel alert.
139, to be credible, the Anonymous comment poster has no reason not to give the information I asked for.
135, transfer to a new 2014 lower cost medical plan should be an easy enough fix. Contact your insurance agent or insurance carrier and ask to be transferred to one of the new 2014 plans.
You'll need a comparative quote first. (For 2014 plan benefits/cost, view your insurance carrier website, or contact your insurance agent). But if you qualify for a financial subsidy, you will want to enroll through the Covered California website. Your insurance agent may be able to assist with these transitions.
One other thing, check in advance to assure your doctor, hospital, and medical provider networks accept the new Affordable Care prototype plans. Some do, some don't. Also note, there is no chiropractic coverage on the new plans.
You got that right! This site has some squirrels....
squirrely
Adjective: 1. mildly insane
2. unpredictable and jumpy, often in a cowardly way
3. nutty; resembling a squirrel looking for nuts
Hutch, I can get to other people's Facebook pages, but I can't get to the No on V one.
I could get to this one from a google search -
https://www.facebook.com/NoOnV.31924?hc_location=stream
All I can see on the No on V Facebook page is an image of the pier that says vote no on V, and a few things under favorites. If there are other pages associated with it, I can't get to those.
That's because you don't have a Facebook account Steve. Most people do though and the page has worked out pretty well. Sure it would be good to have a dedicated website but at this late date our plan is to get more flyers and signs out and talk to the public in person.
203 So maybe Merv is really an emissary to show us what our UUT will look like in the not too distant future. If Pacifica's Campaign Cadre gets this one to pass, they can pass anything. The big bucks are in CATV. I believe this will be the revenue-producing development we've all been waiting for. Who knew?
if anyone would like to help distribute flyers give me a call at 738-4900. need volunteers this wknd and next at the markets around town.
from 4-6 in the afternoon works too.
Oh boy, A close friend clued me in on a few of the "fine print" things associated with V. Looks like I'm going back to a NO vote...
To be truthful, I could care less as I don't own a cell phone but the people that are going to be paying the most are the people that can afford it the least.
Would you take money from a homeless guy on the corner to buy a cup of coffee? Hardly. Council and our public employee's need to understand the political benefits of taking voluntary pay reductions.
Oh Todd, you're so silly. Those political benefits pale in comparison to the very tangible benefits enjoyed by office holders and public employees. For example, the local gang. Look at who supports and bankrolls them. And they're already at the trough. You couldn't pry them loose. But good to know you're back on the right side. 'Atta boy!
Did it pass?
If the subject is the city payroll, does it matter? The same people are still at the public trough. They'll cut jobs and our
already meager services before they cut a dime from anyone's salary. They missed that train and while defeating V is rich in symbolism, the impact is negligible compared to real salary cuts made when that train was still in the station. I voted no, because I wouldn't give this council unrestricted funds, not because I have any illusions about forcing meaningful and sustained pay cuts. Now that V has failed, Council is preparing to ask us, the residents, what we choose to give up. They're not asking the employees that question.
901 read a paper. Cities are still cutting wages left and right. The pension tsunami is just starting, more and more cities are filing. It's far from over.
931 Why don't you listen to your council? Or better yet, look at their track record with labor. Stone said no more wage cuts at a council meeting a few months ago. And the bobble heads nodded right along. You think wage cuts are the solution, but clearly they don't agree. No political will and lots of union friends. They have other remedies in mind for us which is why they've asked for public input on what programs and services to cut. There's your chance.
@todd
"would you take money from a homeless guy on the corner to buy a cup of coffee?" You should poll each Council member on that one. the answers would likely vary.
City wages is not the reason why Pacifica is in the piss poor financial shape it is in.
The lack of revenue producing projects is the reason.
The gang of no and Bray and now Hutch are screaming about city salaries.
Do you really want Paul Blart Mall cop protecting the city? Or unskilled fire men you can pick up on the cheap?
704 Your bashing of the adorable Paul Blart, Mall Cop is uncalled for and utterly ridiculous. Any twit knows it's the long term lack of revenue-producing development that has doomed this town. But since we have zero chance of any such development (Beach Blvd is a cruel joke), we're going to have to cut something big and close to council's heart. We have no choice but to cut city salaries. This council is handy with those Declarations of Fiscal Emergency. Whip one out, get the unions back to the tables, and cut real wages and shift more pension cost to the employee. Throughout the recession, payroll did not decrease because the wages actually being paid did not decrease. It's time. make the cuts, hold raises to COLAs for 5 years. It won't solve our revenue problem, but it will keep us afloat. Unions always scream about losing good people. We've always paid just about the lowest wages in SMC and yet the openings are sought after by competitive candidates. I doubt we'll be over run by burger flippers and car wash dudes.
There aren't any other options left.
That's right 206, revenue-producing development is what we rally need. And that's right again, it will take years to dig us out of this hole.
So what do we do to survive? Cut more services? Jobs? Programs? Or keep all jobs, services, programs and make a small reduction in compensation across the board?
Pacifica ranks 120 out of 480 cities for highest average wages. We can afford to cut a little without losing employees.
http://publicpay.ca.gov/Reports/Cities/Cities.aspx
That's a spurious comparison when many of those cities are located in the Central Valley. A more appropriate comparison is that Pacifica is 15th out of 20 cities in San Mateo county.
Simplistic, one-size-fits-all solutions work much better as sound bytes than when you take a few minutes to look at the details.
The window of opportunity for pay cuts slammed shut a while ago. Thank this council, yeah, this one, for failing once again to seize the opportunity. They've never had a clue, let alone a plan, to stop the death spin.
How can you keep screaming "pay cuts!" when we are already in the bottom quartile?!?
Catch a clue... Repeating something over and over again does not magically make it the answer.
Most of us realize this city missed its chance to make real pay cuts. Maybe not Bray and Hutch. Do you believe council passed up the chance because we're paying the low end of the scale for SMC? What will they be willing to sacrifice now to pay those salaries?
You think the crisis is over huh?
Nov. 13, 2013
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. - A resort town in California warned on Tuesday that it will run out of money by March due to burdensome salary and pension costs and could join other U.S. cities that have recently filed for bankruptcy protection.
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/another-city-mulls-bankruptcy-blaming-wages-pensions-2D11586020
We are broke. So what's it going to be? More taxes? Oh they tried that. It doesn't really matter what other cities are paying. We can't afford to keep up. Do nothing and we'll be in big trouble sooner than later.
Besides raising taxes and fees, saving the snowy plover, and being behind the failed UUT tax can someone fill me in on what this council has done. They have been running the city for almost a year and I have seen zero so far.
They promised employees there would be no more cuts, then tried to pick our pockets.
702 Too late! This is the time to restore those delayed contract increases that this and the prior council told us were pay cuts. You remember. They claimed millions in cuts. Soon will be the time to cut jobs and services. A little of that to soften us up and it'll be easier to pass a nice sales tax. At least all those tourists can pay some of that.
This is a love me, love my dog council. How long before they cut the Chamber right out of the budget?
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