Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Follow-up report of city budget meeting March 6, 2013


In Pacifica, can you say sales tax?
The continued NIMBY alternative to fixing Pacifica's shabby economy seems always to be cutting more service funding, while increasing fees and offering more taxes.  

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, 3/12/13, "City Council gathers information about financial planning options." 

"City Council gathered information with an eye toward coming up with financial planning options that will help achieve the long-term goal to balance the budget. Last Wednesday (3/6/13), the council members continued the process of reviewing the city's budget and departments to find potential cuts to city services. 

....  The handful of people who spoke at the meeting, which was attended by about 40 members of the public and city staff, urged City Council to approve a half-cent sales tax.  

....  To answer community members' questions about the justification for the city's consultants, Director of Administrative Services Ann Ritzma handed the council members, and made available to the public, a report that detailed the purpose for each consultant."  Read article. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nimby alternative? Good try but it's council's alternative, too. Always has been but they had to dispense with that election first. All but Stone are tax and spenders, although never during an election year. So very nice of Dinah Verby to put pressure on Stone to make it unanimous. She's just helping out her city council majority. Nobody gets to play the stalwart hero on this one. Play dead, Mayor Stone, before you get crushed. Kumbaya, baby.

Anonymous said...

I think it is foolish to accept anything this city says about its finances. They're clearly in favor of a tax measure and to sell it to a skeptical, pissed-off public they'll spin the facts anyway they think will help. Here's where a reputation for truth and transparency would help.

Give them more money for the general fund, or what? Outsourcing? That's about the only thing with enough bang for the buck. Still cooking those numbers from the infamous Power Point?

You know how this is going to end.

Anonymous said...

There isn't anything else we can do except give the city more money.
The political alliances are already in place and we can expect everyone but Elvis to come out in favor of some city-saving tax measure. Support isn't cheap. Wonder what the true cost to Pacifica's future will be.

Anonymous said...

This city council never met an increase in taxes or fees they didn't like. Sewer tax going up 10% next year.

Pacifica Index said...

[i] Sewer tax going up 10% next year.[/i]

Pacifica's sewer rates are not increasing next year.

Please see HERE for coverage of the rate schedule.

Anonymous said...

Good job Chris!

Anonymous said...

There's no increase in the sewer tax this year because the 6% planned for FY13/14 was met by the increase in water usage. Other than that it's pretty safe to say that this council, 4 out of 5 anyway, view new taxes as the way to go. As long as it isn't in an election year. Priorities, you know? And, really, what else can be done after decades of the equivalent of Pacifica being on welfare-for-cities. Build a library? Oh, we'll be rich! This council is going to be no different than their predecessors. They'll always look to the voters to bail them out of their mess. Keep your checkbooks handy, Pacifica.