League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Diego County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Proposition H Telecommunications Users' Tax Amendments City of Chula Vista Majority Approval Required Fail: 23,303 / 43.7% Yes votes ...... 30,003 / 56.3% No votes See Also: Index of all Propositions

Arguments For Proposition H

Arguments Against Proposition H

Protect our parks, libraries, and police & fire services by joining us in protecting our Telecommunications Users' Tax. Proposition H protects the revenues received from telecommunications companies and keeps the current rate unchanged at 5%. Prop H is not a new tax. When the ordinance was drafted in 1970, today's mobile phones didn't even exist. This outdated law prevents Chula Vista from collecting users' tax fairly from all telecommunications providers. Some providers don't pay it at all! 95% or more of Chula Vista residents and businesses already pay their fair share of this fee. Prop H expands and modernizes telecommunications definitions to address state and federal changes since 1970 so every resident is treated equally. If Prop H fails, the City could lose $6 million per year, which currently funds: 50 Police Officers, or 57 Firefighters, or CVPD Traffic, Property Crimes, Family Protection and Violent Crimes Investigation Units, regular staffing for a one-engine Fire Station, and the Fire Prevention Unit, or Over 50% of the Public Works Department (such as park maintenance and road repairs), or The Animal Care Facility and all libraries + Civic Center, South Chula Vista, and Eastlake, or All recreation centers and all three libraries Chula Vista's "Fiscal Health Plan" requires a balanced budget, adequate reserves and pension benefit reform. Following this Plan, the City Council cut 20% from the City's budget and 25% of its workforce since 2007. State government raids and the economic downturn forced local service and staff reductions to 1990 levels. Losing $6 million per year in telecommunications revenues would mean further cuts in services to close budget deficits even greater than those the city already addressed during the past three years. Prop H protects what we receive from telecommunications companies so residents can have the services we need. CHERYL COX Mayor, City of Chula Vista PAMELA BENSOUSSAN Councilmember, City of Chula Vista BERTHA LOPEZ Teacher, Parent, and Community Volunteer> WILLIAM HALL Businessman, Former Port Commissioner Rebuttal to Arguments For A tax is a tax! Supporters of Prop H claim the Utility Users' Tax is NOT a new tax. Who are they kidding? Chula Vista residents will be charged a new 5% tax on their cell phone bills if Prop H passes. The City can't even be truthful that passage will result in a tax INCREASE. Don't believe false promises Claims that the money will "protect" essential programs are FALSE. Not ONE DIME is set aside for essential services. The City can spend this money any way it wants. The City also claims it will "lose" money if Prop H doesn't pass. The City loses NO CURRENT FUNDING for police, fire, parks and libraries if Prop H does not pass. This tax hurts working families the most The City would love to get its hands on more of YOUR money by charging this new tax. Every member of your family who uses a cell phone will be taxed 5% each. This will hurt hardworking families the most at a time when they can least afford it. No means NO! How many times do voters have to say NO to Chula Vista politicians? The Council's new Fiscal Health Plan is just that, a plan. This "Plan" doesn't guarantee REAL reform. The City needs to first demonstrate its fiscal discipline before asking people for a dime more in taxes. Vote NO on Proposition H JILL GALVEZ Chula Vista Telecom Executive JAIME MERCADO Fmr. Member, Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees/Retired Principal CHRISTOPHER ALTBAUM Small Business Owner PENNY VAUGHN Mobile Home Residents Community Leader

Prop H is a TAX INCREASE Prop H will impose NEW TAXES on services used by Chula Vista residents and businesses. If you use a cellphone, pager, or make toll free or international telephone calls, you will likely end up paying more in taxes. Worst possible time to raise taxes With an ailing local economy, heartbreaking foreclosures in both East and West Chula Vista, and businesses struggling just to keep their doors open, the last thing we need is another tax increase. New taxes could easily end up paying for pensions and salary increases, not services Not one dime of this tax is set aside for essential services like public safety, streets, parks, or libraries. This tax could pay for public employee salary and pension benefit increases - or anything else the politicians desire. Reform before revenue Voters have already told the City Council to reduce spending before raising taxes. Over the last 10 years, Chula Vista pension costs have increased 190%. Yet City employees pay NOTHING toward their own retirement accounts. What a deal! Other cities across San Diego County are reforming their pension systems and saving countless millions, but not Chula Vista. The City should reform their absurdly generous pension benefits and scrutinize expensive overtime before asking taxpayers for more money. Don't reward fiscal irresponsibility Chula Vista has repeatedly failed to demonstrate fiscal responsibility to voters - continually asking for tax increases to fix its problems. The City foolishly spent $255,000 on a special election last year, wasting precious taxpayer dollars only to have voters overwhelmingly reject the 1% sales tax increase. The City needs to reduce labor costs, streamline operations, and demonstrate fiscal discipline before asking taxpayers to cough up more in taxes. Vote NO on Proposition H. Visit www.chulavistataxpayers.org and www.sdcta.org for more information. JAMES F. DOUD Vice President Chula Vista Taxpayers Association LANI LUTAR President & CEO San Diego County Taxpayers Association MARSHALL "TY" COMPTON Past Commissioner Port of San Diego ISABELLE ESPINO Vice President Chula Vista Civic Association ED HERRERA CEO San Diego South Chamber of Commerce Rebuttal to Arguments Against Prop H is not a new tax but it does guard important revenues that have protected Chula Vista residents since 1970! Prop H funds help provide police and fire protection, parks, libraries and other vital city services. Prop H treats every resident fairly. 95% of all residents and businesses already pay the Telecommunications Users' Tax. Prop H updates the law to treat all taxpayers equally, and Prop H keeps the current 5% rate unchanged. 100% of telecommunications providers that serve Chula Vista already collect the tax on all calls placed within California. 99% of these providers already pay on cell phones, interstate and international calls, text messaging, prepaid and postpaid telecommunications and paging. Prop H will ensure that ALL providers play by the same rules. Important fiscal reforms have already been implemented to tighten our belts. The City has already made extensive budget reforms since 2007, eliminating 259 permanent full-time positions and cutting spending by 20%. In August, the City began budget planning six months in advance to balance the 2011-12 budget. But now, nearly $6 million of the City's annual revenues are at risk if Prop H is not passed. Help safeguard our city from devastating layoffs and service reductions. Voters can support Prop H while City employees and the City Council work on reforms to salaries and benefits, reserve funds, and require balanced budgets. The quality of life in Chula Vista hinges on these important reforms. CHERYL COX Mayor, City of Chula Vista JERRY R. RINDONE Retired High School Principal RUDY RAMIREZ Councilmember, City of Chula Vista DAVID BEJARANO DAVID HANNEMAN