Introduction: I just don't have as much time to write on topics as I'd like, so I'm going with quick summaries of my take on the issues of the day. When I hit 10 separate topics, I will close this blog page and start another one. Here goes!
Okay, I added a photo because this page is so boring! Below: Hail the Waag Bros. 12th Annual Goler Wash Crew - what a friendly bunch!
4/2/2014 LOCAL:
Renewal of the City of San Luis Obispo (SLO) Sales Tax Increase. Vote No!
4/2/2014: Recently, city of SLO city council members Kathy Smith and Dan Carpenter were on the losing end of a 3-2 vote to continue the current half-percent sales tax increase - I agree with them. Measure Y began the increase way back in 2006 as a "temporary" measure in order to increase city capital expenditures. These taxes have a way of going from "temporary" to "permanent". California is already consistently ranked in the top 3 highest tax burden states in the nation, and increasing the sales tax adds to the total rate.
Though there are many good uses for what amounts to a $6,500,000 sales tax increase, these types of taxes hit the poor and low income (as a percentage of income) the hardest, and are therefore the most regressive (as opposed to progressive) of all taxes (you never hear any politicians say that - especially the left-leaning ones). So I oppose the increase on those grounds alone.
In addition, as I have often said, I'd be happy to pay more in taxes if the government spent our tax money as carefully as we spend our own money - but they don't. IMO, SLO overpays for many things, but particularly the six-figure-$$$-average-police-salary - yes, you heard that right: our police department officers get paid over $100,000 on average per officer. Those of us with our bachelor's and higher level degrees should be so lucky!
It has been noted that the City Council has not spent the bulk of the Measure Y money since 2006 on capital improvement projects like they said they would, and yet they are back at the public trough for more. This time, they are not even bothering to insist that it will be spent on capital projects. Councilperson Jan Marx called Smith and Carpenter "obstructionists" after their no votes.
So what have they spent our sales-tax-increase dollars on instead of capital improvements? Answer: additional staffing of 17 positions, including 2 of my most objectionable, the so-called "neighborhood services specialists" aka the "neighborhood wellness police" - basically, a force that goes through neighborhoods fining you if they can see your trash cans aren't hidden away behind a fence within 12 hours of being picked up by San Luis Garbage. I feel really good about how the salaries for those 2 are being spent! - NOT! 'Nuf said.
Note that even WITHOUT the measure Y increases, the city of SLO continued to increase gross revenue collection since measure Y was passed, including during the "great recession", so they don't have the luxury of complaining of declining revenues as the reason they must renew the "temporary" sales tax increase.
John Fowler, one of the 10-member advisory committee who did not seek the sales tax increase/renewal, noted that spending on capital projects did not increase with the Measure Y funds because of the large growth in city staff salaries! In other words, sell Measure Y by promoting the need to fill potholes, then when you get the tax increase, spend it on themselves and their staff and pet projects instead!
If the City of SLO would get staff salaries under control, spend the Measure Y increase on capital expenses as advertised, then maybe I'd be on board with increasing the sales tax burden on the poor and homeless - maybe.
