League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Riverside County, CA June 8, 2010 Election
	Measure G 9-1-1 Emergency Response, Police, Fire and Safe Streets Measure City of Desert Hot Springs Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 1,677 / 82.57% Yes votes ...... 354 / 17.43% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure G

Arguments Against Measure G

9-1-1 EMERGENCY RESPONSE, POLICE, FIRE AND SAFE STREETS MEASURE We Need to Keep Desert Hot Springs safe, We Need Measure "G" + Vote YES on "G". Ten years ago, Desert Hot Springs voters overwhelmingly passed two local ballot measures, a utility users and parcel tax, to stabilize the city and establish reliable locally controlled funding for vital city services such as police and fire. Since 2000, these measures have funded the majority of our public safety services. Now, the existing Public Safety Parcel Tax will expire causing a significant loss of funding unless it is renewed. YES on "G" simply continues the existing parcel tax with NO changes to the rate. Residents will continue to pay the same amount they do today to support essential public safety services. Without Measure "G", Desert Hot Springs will lose $2 Million in funding, forcing the city to lay off police officers, cut police anti-gang enforcement operations, and reduce graffiti removal, animal control, and building safety and code enforcement services. Over the past year, the Desert Hot Springs police department has made significant progress in reducing gangs and crime in our City. Now is not the time for cuts to public safety. Yes on "G" allows Desert Hot Springs to continue programs like Operation Falling Sun, proactive police enforcement that has resulted in the arrest of hundreds of gang members and a reduction of crime. YES on "G" makes Desert Hot Springs a safer city, attracting more tourists, strengthening the local economy, creating jobs and revitalizing our City. Yes on "G" supports public safety services which protects our property values and the local economy. YES on "G" continues to ensure your Desert Hot Springs dollars are fiscally accountable. All expenditures are subject to independent annual audits, and public review of city expenditures. Join Desert Hot Springs Police Officers, Firefighters, business leaders, and residents -- Vote Yes on "G" to keep us safe. By: Yvonne Parks, Mayor Jeffrey S. Bowman, Chair, DHS Public Safety Commission Gustavo Paiz Eric Pontius, President C of C John H. Furbee Rebuttal to Arguments For Now is the time for a tax break, when crime is down. If not now, when? When crime is up? Be honest, if you're saying not now, you're really saying no tax break ever. Good hardworking folks are suffering, and they need a break. People's lives are hanging by a financial thread. Many are struggling just for a roof over their head, food on their plates, and needed medicines. Heartbroken, some parents can't afford to spend time with their kids, or even buy them a toy or treat. Rejecting this tax increase can make all the difference. It's not the only way to balance the budget. This tax increase is regressive, which means people with lower incomes pay the most. Balancing the budget on the backs of regular folks is wrong. Some unemployed combat-disabled veterans in Desert Hot Springs have $123/month to live. There's been millions for developers, so public safety is always short. It's a trick, because they know voters will vote for "public safety", but not to give millions of their tax dollars to well-connected developers. Another trick, nothing stops them from raiding all public safety funds that are not required to be spent for public safety... again. No explanation why they waited 9 months, letting known dangerous criminals run free, to do "Falling-sun" in front of the cameras, timed to influence last years 40% tax increase vote. It's about priorities. Best Wishes, Robert Bentley Expert Rating Certified Professional in Economics http://www.DHSTaxFairness.com Desert Hot Springs Citizens for Tax Fairness

Fact: This tax increase will cost you about $2 Million in the first year alone. Fact: It locks-in this tax increase for 10 years. Fact: Now is the wrong time and regular folks need a break. I told you so. An endless series of tax hikes due to chaotic mismanagement by our local government. Let's be honest. This is a tax hike because it's an "extension" of a tax hike. Only in politics can you count a yes vote that costs taxpayers more than $20 Million as something other than raising taxes. "The protection of the public safety is the first responsibility of local government and local officials have an obligation to give priority to the provision of adequate public safety services." California Constitution, Article XIII Taxation, Section 35 Promises made... promises broken... It's about priorities. The fact is they have had money for everything except police. Beginning April 1, 2008, they have borrowed over $50 Million that local officials admit "can't be used for public safety services". Where did all that money go? In a highly questionable deal, they bought a worthless Temple for $1.4 Million, its appraised value. However, the Temple will take $1.5 Million just to make it "safe". (Desert Valley Star 5-6-09 & 5-12-09) Dysfunctional and out of control, they recently gave city employees an 8% pay raise; laying-off people immediately after. With unemployment over 15%, now is not the time to lock-in a 10-year tax increase. They plan to pummel you with the politics of fear, deceptive scare tactics, biased media spin, and taxpayer paid advertising. Do you like it when they spend your tax dollars on advertising telling you how you should vote? More misplaced priorities. Thank You, Robert Bentley President, Desert Hot Springs Citizens for Tax Fairness Former Police Commissioner & Auditor Rebuttal to Arguments Against As a resident of Desert Hot Springs, you understand how important improving our public safety is - you have seen the progress we have made! Don't be fooled by hype or misinformation + Don't let outrageous statements by a few individuals threaten our safety in Desert Hot Springs. Measure "G" is NOT a tax increase. The truth is that Measure "G" only continues our existing funding + WITHOUT CHANGE - to support vital public safety services in Desert Hot Springs. Residents will pay the same as today to ensure our community is safe. Over the past year, the Desert Hot Springs police department has made significant progress reducing gangs and crime in our City. Vote Yes on "G" so that we can build on the progress that we have made in this community. If Measure "G" is not passed, things in Desert Hot Springs will change + for the worse. Without Measure "G", Desert Hot Springs will lose $2 Million for public safety services, forcing the city to lay off police officers, cut police anti-gang enforcement operations, and reduce graffiti removal, animal control, and building safety and code enforcement services. Vote Yes on "G" to allow Desert Hot Springs to continue programs like Operation Falling Sun and funding so our police officers have the resources to maintain the improvements to public safety we've already made. Now is not the time for public safety cuts. YES on "G" ensures your dollars are fiscally accountable. All expenditures are subject to independent annual audits, public review, and will expire in 10 years. Vote to secure our safety, vote Yes on "G". By: Yvonne Parks, Mayor Jeffrey S. Bowman, Chair, Public Safety Commission Gustavo Paiz Eric Pontius, Chamber President John H. Furbee