Our opinion on the election results:
This is not a time for smiling;
instead, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors should be ashamed of themselves. Measure F could have been
designed so that only the unincorporated voters would decide on their own
taxes. Instead, the Supervisors decided to bypass direct democracy. They
took the route which
guaranteed them the result they wanted. It's as if we give all voters in the
U.S. a chance to vote for the California governor. It's not right, and
certainly nothing to be proud of.
What is the utility tax?
It
is an extra tax added to the PGE and phone bills of unincorporated
residents. That includes such areas as Castro Valley, San
Lorenzo, Ashland, Cherryland, and unincorporated parts of Hayward,
Livermore and Pleasanton.
Do all
county residents pay a utility tax? No, about
half of the cities within Alameda County DO NOT have a utility tax. Each
city can decide if it wants such a tax or not, and only the residents within
that city make that decision.
Why does everyone in
the County get to vote on a tax only for unincorporated areas? The
Board of Supervisors chose to conduct the election in this manner. The law
DOES NOT REQUIRE that they conduct the election in this manner. They could
create a special utility tax district, and conduct the election only within that
district. Presumably, the Board feels the tax might not pass if the
election was conducted fairly. |
On the June 3 ballot , Measure F will re-authorize the expiring utility users tax.
This tax is paid only by residents of the unincorporated parts of
Alameda County. Measure F will raise the tax from 5.5% to 6.5%; it removes the rate cap on non-residential users like Eden Hospital; and it extends the tax to cable, video and satellite TV bills.
We oppose this measure for a number of reasons.
First, Measure F will be voted on county-wide even though only the residents of the unincorporated areas (10% of the population) will have to pay the tax. This is unfair. The County could have created a special utility tax district for the unincorporated areas the way the Hayward Area Recreation District did for the Castro Valley Park Bond, but the County chose not to do this.
Instead, the Supervisors chose a legal but grossly unfair method
to virtually ensure the passage of this tax.
Second, the measure is dishonestly worded. The arguments specify certain uses for the tax money - Libraries, Sheriff and Planning - but the actual legally binding wording of the measure takes it all back. "There is no legal obligation that the funds be used for any particular purpose".
Third, it's hard to believe that utility tax revenues haven't kept up with inflation, let alone exceeded it. Telephone bills have certainly kept up, and PG&E bills have skyrocketed. Maybe there is no amount of tax revenue that the County can't outspend. Instead of raising taxes as a first choice, the Supervisors should try prioritizing their spending like the rest of us.
Why should I Vote NO if I live in a city?
If you believe in fairness, you should vote NO.
Half of the cities in Alameda County don't even have a utility
tax, and yet those residents will get to vote to impose one on
other people. Does that seem fair to you?
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