League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Mateo County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Measure M Vehicle Registration Fee County of San Mateo Majority Approval Required Pass: 110,549 / 54.9% Yes votes ...... 90,740 / 45.1% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure M

Arguments Against Measure M

Measure M will reduce traffic congestion and water pollution while funding critical road and street improvements across San Mateo County. Most importantly, every dollar from Measure M will stay here and cannot be taken by the State. Measure M will: fix pot holes and maintain streets and roads support transit operations including senior and disabled services reduce traffic congestion and delays provide safe routes to school programs reduce water pollution from oil and gas runoff 50% of Measure M funds ($3.2 million annually) are allocated locally to fix potholes, maintain streets and roads, and water pollution prevention. San Mateo, Daly City, Redwood City, South San Francisco, Pacifica, San Bruno, Menlo Park, San Carlos, Burlingame, Belmont, Foster City, East Palo Alto, Hillsborough, Millbrae, Atherton, Woodside, Half Moon Bay, Portola Valley, Brisbane, Colma, and unincorporated San Mateo County will receive money every year for these programs. 50% of Measure M funds are dedicated to Countywide Transportation Programs. Residents use different types of public transportation including SamTrans and CalTrain - Measure M will support transit operations in the county to help improve efficiency and convenient connections. Measure M will make public transportation more accessible for residents, especially senior citizens, disabled residents who rely on bus, van, and other transit options. Measure M funds will enhance our Safe Routes to School program which includes pedestrian and bicycle safety for school children and parents. The Water Pollution Prevention Program will be enhanced by reducing pollution of our creeks, Bay, and ocean from oil and gas runoff. Measure M funds will be spent as promised because of the taxpayer safeguards built into the measure --- including detailed implementation plans, annual audits of expenditures, a sunset provision that requires voter approval before extension. Measure M will fund these improvements for a nominal cost of $10 per registered vehicle in our county. Please join us in supporting Measure M. /s/ Carl Guardino, President & CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group /s/ Lenore (Lennie) Roberts, Legislative Advocate, Committee for Green Foothills /s/ William A. Nack, Business Manager/Executive Officer Building and Construction Trades Council AFL-CIO /s/ Eugene R. Mullin, Assemblyman - Retired /s/ Onnolee U. Trapp, Transportation Director, League of Women Voters Rebuttal to Arguments For Proponents describe the "fee" increase as "nominal." Have you noticed how fee and tax increases are often termed "nominal"? Even when it's a $6.4 million hit on county residents? Maybe we're a bit old fashioned but to us that's not nominal. In this terrible economy, with high unemployment and falling family incomes, we'd like to suggest an alternative: a "nominal" DECREASE in fees and taxes. Where's the ballot measure for that? Until it appears, reordering "City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County" budget priorities seems appropriate. Let's have fewer "administration services", fewer "professional services", fewe "consulting services", fewer "professional dues and memberships", fewer "conferences and meetings", and more "filling potholes." That is what voters want and no "fee" increase is necessary. The economy is in trouble. People are hurting. Unemployment is high. Incomes are down. This government agency must tighten its belt and make do with less - just like the rest of us. Tax and fee increases are simply not possible. VOTE NO ON MEASURE M /s/ Douglas A. McNea, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association /s/ Don Pettengill, San Mateo Resident /s/ Kevin Peterson, Software Engineer

In 2009, for the first time since WWII, Californians' income fell compared to the previous year.* We are making do with less. We are cutting back spending. The response of the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County? A "Fee" increase! They have a laundry list of wonderful benefits for this new "fee" - see the measure summary. All they left out was "For the children", a sure winning line - as anyone who has seen the Michael Caine movie "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" knows. Voters of San Mateo County, listen: we can't grow government services and benefits while people who would pay for these increases, you and I, have less income than before. The City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County should never have proposed any fee increase while citizens are suffering in this economy. Perhaps it should instead cut back on the consulting, professional and administration services, which consumed almost $5.3 million of its $11.3 million 2008-09 budget. That same budget's total for Professional Dues and Memberships, and Conferences and meetings was $178,237. Nice work if you can get it. One day, and soon we hope, our county and our state will return to prosperity. Family incomes will increase. And we will have the resources to support the increases in public services we all desire. But those times are not yet here. Until then, public agencies must tighten their belts just the same as we. There has to be a temporary moratorium on fee and tax increases until the economy improves. VOTE NO ON MEASURE M! http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/11/2950736/californians-lost-out-on-40-billion.html /s/ Douglas A. McNea, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association /s/ Don Pettengill, San Mateo Resident /s/ Kevin Peterson, Software Engineer Rebuttal to Arguments Against Argument against Measure M referred to $5.3 million consulting and professional expenses. That money paid for countywide programs which contributed to 19 shuttles, 20 street paving projects, 20,412 miles of street sweeping, a bike bridge, and more. Furthermore, embedded in the $178,237 Dues and Memberships is $128,437 for State-mandated stormwater program monitoring. We agree these are difficult times. But with $320,000 roadway maintenance backlog, declining revenues, and State takeaways from local government, it is impossible to maintain service levels. Measure M provides voters a choice either to accept declining service levels or address them by supporting this modest fee - funding that will stay here and cannot be taken by the State. Due to budget cuts, city and County roads have more potholes and large cracks. These could cause cracked windshields from flying stones, misalignment of the vehicle's suspension, and additional vehicle maintenance costs. Eliminating one wheel alignment could save the driver $150 for only a $10 annual vehicle registration fee. 50% of Measure M funds ($3.2 million annually) are allocated locally to fix potholes, maintain streets and roads, and reduce water pollution. Bus routes, train service, and operating hours have been reduced 7 per cent recently. This results in longer waits and travel times. 50% of Measure M funds are dedicated to Countywide Transportation Programs which includes support for transit operations including senior and disabled services and safe routes to school programs. Please join us and VOTE YES ON MEASURE M. /s/ Onnolee U. Trapp, Transportation Director, League of Women Voters /s/ James D. Bigelow, Business Owner /s/ Chester Fung, Daily Commuter /s/ Carol Yasuda-Terrones, Past PTA President /s/ Shelley Kessler, Executive Secretary-Treasurer San Mateo County Central Labor Council