The Pleasant Hill city council's decision to place a large Utility User Tax measure on the ballot is the wrong tax, at the wrong time!
It is true that the city is suffering from cuts in state funding, as are virtually all public agencies in California. However, local taxpayers advocates feel strongly that this proposal is ill-timed and unnecessary.
Pleasant Hill taxpayers are already saddled with a flood of new and increased taxes and fees, including:
- Mt. Diablo school district's new $1.87 billion construction bond debt (which our city council unanimously endorsed); this bond will not be paid off until 2042, when today's 8th graders will be 65 years old.
- Pleasant Hill Recreation and Parks district has recently passed a construction bond, which will add to property owners' tax bills for the next 30 years; district plans are already over budget.
- Bridge tolls have increased substantially, and car pool lanes are no longer free during rush hours.
- State income taxes have been increased dramatically, and legislators are clamoring to raise them even higher (in the midst of the state's disastrous economic slump; incidentally, during this slump, the state has actually added 2200 new employees.
- State park fees have increased.
- Water rates have increased to support new usage restrictions.
- Tuition at universities and community colleges have increased dramatically, and will likely increase further.
Also, numerous local agencies are rushing to place new taxes and fees on the November ballot or in utility service bills, including:
- PG&E has asked for a rate increase on gas and electric service.
- The Central Sanitation district will likely ask to raise the sewer service fee.
- The Contra Costa Transit Authority will ask for an additional $10 DMV fee per vehicle to augment the ½ cent sales tax surcharge they already receive.
- The so-called "Bush Tax Cuts" are scheduled to expire January 1 on 2011; Congress is lobbying to let them expire, which will raise a number of taxes that are critical to middle-class families, such as the "death" tax, and capital gains taxes.
- The November ballot will contain a $18 per vehicle DMV fee to support parks.
- Comcast cable has announced it will raise cable fees soon.
The city has been spending reserves to balance the budget, and has done little to reduce costs, other than to eliminate some vacant positions, and lay off a few part-time employees. City employees contribute nothing to their pension plan; the city picks up the entire tab, a practice that is unheard of in the private sector.
It's time to turn matters around at city hall!
Jack Weir
Pleasant Hill Taxpayers Association
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