Some things to consider before you vote to tax yourself this November.
MEASURE V is wolves in sheep’s clothing AGAIN. It is intentionally vague and intentionally omits specifics to give council free will to exercise a maximum of 20% general fund transfer (GFT) from the City’s Utility Fund to balance the General Fund.
There are 3 bogus “SAFEGUARDS” that attempt to make this Measure look like more than what it really is;
• It states all funds generated by Measure V stay IN Colton, FOR Colton. Well, where else would they or should they go????
• It creates a Fiscal Oversight Committee. The current and active predecessor Measure D Fiscal Oversight Committee’s recommendations and observations have ever been taken seriously by the current council or staff. Their agendas have always been prepared FOR them, not BY them or based on resident input. This is a useless safeguard.
• It requires mandatory audits. Yet another weak attempt at making Measure V appear to be something it isn’t. The City already has to have mandatory independent audits REGARDLESS of this Measure. They are not a condition of this Measure nor are extra audits required for this Measure. The City’s attempt at trying to paint a picture of being fiscally responsible is a moot point because in actuality the Measure has no bearing on audits because regular audits are required by law annually anyway. Residents are not given extra assurance over and above the regular assurance they are given by law. There is no added value.
Some other critical points to consider;
• How long are residents willing to let their “level of services” be held hostage or used as a leverage to let the bully lobbies put fear in the hearts of residents by falsely claiming emergency response times will go up and that crime will go up and that their libraries and streets and parks will go unmaintained? Haven’t we been throwing more and more money at these problems with no success only to end up with a bigger bill and a projected possible bankruptcy in the near future if we do not balance the general fun on its own? Throwing more tax money has not solved or prevented fiscal mismanagement. Residents deserve these things without a Measure that raises their taxes.
• How long are residents going to allow the City to kick the can down the road before fiscal mismanagement catches up with the City? We can look to the neighboring city of San Bernardino to understand what we could be headed for if we continue down the path we’re already on. Additionally, there has not been any analysis done on the utility side of the house to assess how long the Utility Fund can even sustain constant “General Fund Transfers”. You have to wonder why.
• The same local “lobbies” and bargaining units that are funded by the General Fund and endorsing this “tax” are the same ones in large part that are responsible for our current structural deficit due to their over reliance on and overburdening the general fund with irresponsible negotiations that continually increase salaries that we cannot afford to pay, now or in the future. Don’t be fooled by the fact that utility workers are included as those who endorse this Measure. Utility workers are paid FROM the UTILITY FUND that is currently bailing out the General Fund which will come to an end in 2021 if Measure V does not pass. This is an attempt to make it appear as if there is wide support among City workers for this tax.
• There is no real accountability for how the General Fund Transfer (GFT) will be used. It states that annual reports will ensure funds are spent properly but does not specify HOW and it does not require a full reporting for HOW either.
• The majority of the Colton Utility Commission is not in favor of Measure V.
Colton’s real budget problem STILL has not yet been seriously addressed. The current reasons for the increase in expenditures are being shoved under the rug. Residents are given the choice of voting for this tax to sustain their General Fund by raiding the Utility Fund in order to sustain overspending -OR- they can vote NO and let the current Measure D expire in 2021 so other REAL solutions can be reevaluated that will not burden the residents with additional taxes or rate increases which will send the message to the City to live within its means.
Vote NO on Measure V and do not vote for any Council member up for election that supports this half-baked Measure. Colton’s fiscal health depends on it…..
Colton Residents Against Measure V 2018