League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Contra Costa County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Measure P Transactions and Use Tax City of Antioch Majority Approval Required Fail: 11119 / 48.16% Yes votes ...... 11969 / 51.84% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure P

Arguments Against Measure P

Antioch is struggling to maintain the services that protect our quality of life and keep our city safe. State takeaways of local money, combined with declining home values and decreased consumer spending have seriously impacted the city's main sources of revenue + property and sales taxes. The city continues to look at other ways to increase revenue, including working with public employees to obtain further voluntary pay and benefit concessions. However, this financial crisis is severe. In the last two years the city has cut $13 million and still faces a $4 million deficit. 25% of the workforce has been eliminated, remaining staff has voluntarily cut their pay and benefits by $2.8 million, and city hall is closed on Fridays. Positions at the police department are left unfilled and there are 20 fewer police officers on duty than there were 2 years ago. If we are to preserve our safe neighborhoods, additional funding is needed to prevent further police layoffs and to maintain police patrols and 911 response times. Other city services that contribute to our quality of life also need additional funding, including fixing potholes and maintaining local streets and sidewalks and enforcing city codes to clean up abandoned properties. This measure will provide a stable source of funding for these vital services and not one dollar can be taken by the state. This measure also has strong accountability provisions, including an annual audit and a citizen oversight committee, to ensure the money is being spent as promised. And, the measure will expire in eight years. This measure will bring stable revenue that cannot be taken away by the state, has strong citizen oversight of spending and an annual audit. In order to maintain our police services and emergency response times and keep our community safe, please vote Yes. Len Herendeen, Former Police Chief Iris Archuleta Joyann E. Motts, Police Chief James Hyde, Community Liaison, Antioch High School James D. Davis, Mayor, City of Antioch

Vote NO on increasing Antioch sales tax beyond the current record levels. The tax dollars would NOT be dedicated to police services and public safety, the number one priority among citizens, but go to the general fund. The tax would not add police but "hopefully" allow a break even next year. It will NOT solve the crisis The proposed oversight is not binding and cannot legally be modified at a later time. While all Californians have seen many increases in service fees and taxes, Antioch leaders voted to: raise water rates a total of 60% raise sewer rates a total of 30% allow garbage rates to climb 26% this year Logic and history tell us a local sales tax would negatively impact Antioch businesses and still not produce the income projected. It's wrong to ask for more tax dollars at a time when so many families and businesses are struggling financially. Economic development, business retention, reducing the City business permit process, constant budget reviews, pension reforms and contracting out more City services will help solve our fiscal crisis. Vote NO on this tax increase. It is the wrong solution at the wrong time Antioch Chamber of Commerce, Devi Lanphere, President/CEO Contra Costa Taxpayers Assn, Kris Hunt, Executive Director FMBC Terry Ramus, Member Manuel "Manny" Soliz, Jr., Former Councilmember & Mayor Pro-Tem, Local Businessman ED/GA and Antioch Business Owner Tom Lamothe, Chair