Ballot Argument In Favor of Measure D

Transcription

1

2

3 City of Hayward Utility Users Tax (UUT) Ballot Measure Election Day: June 7, 2016 Ballot Argument In Favor of Measure D VOTE YES on Measure D to maintain funding for ESSENTIAL City of Hayward services without raising your tax rate. In 2009, Hayward voters approved a local utility users tax (UUT), Measure A, to prevent devastating cuts to public services in the wake of the Great Recession. Since then, the City of Hayward has worked hard to be fiscally responsible while maintaining essential city services as promised with the original Measure A. Measure A will expire shortly; and just as in 2009, without this vital funding, the City will have no choice but to make severe service cuts. Measure D authorizes continued funding to maintain: Adequate 911 emergency response times Firefighters and paramedics, (and fully operational Hayward fire stations) Current levels of police staffing and neighborhood patrols Youth programs that keep kids away from crime, gangs, and drugs Disaster preparedness programs Economic development services that stimulate the local economy Measure D will NOT RAISE your tax rate. It simply extends WITHOUT INCREASING the current 5.5% rate originally approved by voters. By law, the State cannot take this funding away. Measure D lasts 20 years only and REQUIRES annual audits to ensure funds are spent as promised. This funding cannot be extended without a new vote by our community. All residents and businesses will pay their fair share. Individuals qualifying for lowincome lifeline service will be eligible for an exemption. Please join local firefighters, police officers, neighborhood leaders, seniors, parents, civic and business leaders, and residents from every neighborhood in Hayward who are uniting behind Measure D to support our community. Keep our city moving forward without raising your tax rate. Please VOTE YES on Measure D. Learn more at

4 Signatories as follows: Charles Plummer, Alameda County Sheriff Emeritus & Hayward Resident Barbara Halliday, Mayor, City of Hayward Obray Van Buren, Labor Leader and Fairway Park Resident Elaine Sunday, President, Hayward Neighborhood Alert Michael Sweeney, Mayor, City of Hayward, Retired

5 ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE D In 2009, the City declared a fiscal emergency to justify a Utility Users Tax (UUT). The purpose of this temporary, 10-year tax was to weather the recession. Now, with a robust recovery and an increased sales tax (the highest in California), the UUT should no longer be necessary. To argue otherwise is an admission that the City is budgetarily inept, and we re consequently stuck in a perpetual state of emergency. Instead of threatening to cut emergency services, the City ought to be reining in the highest compensation levels of its emergency service personnel. Visit and count the number of Hayward firefighters receiving annual compensation amounts of over $300,000. You ll be shocked. Regarding the UUT, most have no idea on what they re being taxed or the specific amount they pay each year Do you? Some utilities are taxed; some aren t. Electricity is taxed; water isn t. Gas is taxed; sewer isn t. Xfinity TV is taxed; Dish TV isn t. Landline phone service is taxed; VoIP isn t. Cell phone service billed to a Hayward address is taxed; service invoiced elsewhere (such as a prepaid/no-contact account or a friends and family/employer plan) isn t. There s no logical correlation between this confusingly applied tax and an individual s burden on city services. Individual neighbors requiring the same level of service can be taxed significantly different amounts based on the manner of their consumption. An individual having Dish TV, a VoIP home phone, a no-contract mobile phone, and a solar array that can generate all needed power will pay nothing toward city services via this tax. While someone who has Xfinity TV, a traditional landline phone, a cell phone billed to their Hayward address, and all PG&E provided power may be paying hundreds annually. This is unjust, and it shouldn t continue. Lawrence M. Johmann, Hayward resident, property owner, and businessman

6 City of Hayward Utility Users Tax (UUT) Ballot Measure Election Day: June 7, 2016 Rebuttal to the Argument Against Measure D The opponent of Measure D is misinformed, misguided and inaccurate. Here are the facts: Hayward voters approved Measure A in 2009 to prevent devastating cuts to city services in the wake of the Great Recession. Yet today, even with an improving economy, the demand for city services has increased as City of Hayward expenses also continue to rise. Even with the UUT, the City of Hayward has slashed budgets to the bone; reduced employee positions without imposing layoffs; reached agreement with each employee bargaining group to share more of the burden of their employment benefits. All while maintaining a high level of service. During this same period, ALL City of Hayward employees went five years with absolutely no cost of living increases in their salaries. Like 150+ other jurisdictions in California, Hayward s Utility Users Tax is subject to state and Federal laws. That some services, like satellite TV are not taxed, is the result of Federal law and outside the control of the City. More importantly, Hayward s UUT funds now comprise the City s third largest revenue source. Approximately 75% of UUT funds (roughly $12 million/year) go directly to public safety operations (police and fire). Without this VITAL funding, the City will be forced to make SEVERE service cuts. Again, Measure D will NOT RAISE your tax rate. It simply extends WITHOUT INCREASING the current rate originally approved by voters. Legally, the State cannot take this funding away. Protect your investment in Hayward - without raising your tax rate. VOTE YES on D. Signatories: Greg Jones Hayward City Council Member Judy Harrison President of Friends of Hayward Library and 33-Year Hayward Resident Frank Crespo Hayward Firefighter, Local 1909 and Lifelong Resident

7 Heather Enders Hayward Planning Commissioner Antonio Isais Hayward Community Services Commissioner, Hayward student

8 Rebuttal to Argument In Favor of Measure Jeez, the supporting argument reads like an extortion note keep paying or else the severe cuts you ll suffer will be devastating. Come on, give us a break. The UUT was enacted to mitigate the effects of the recession. Now that property values have returned to former highs and there are hundreds of residential units currently in the planning process, the city will be reaping a windfall. This is because in addition to normal revenue levels, the current UUT won t expire for another three years. If we don t let it expire in 2019 as intended, we re going to be in big trouble. All of these wonderful taxes, fees, and assessments that have been enacted lately are killing the golden goose our crucial business sector. Despite a booming economy, our city is struggling to attract and retain good businesses. Consider Hayward s largest for-profit employer, bus manufacturer Gillig. This celebrated company has given up on Hayward and is moving to Livermore our nearby neighbor that has no utility tax, no emergency facilities tax, and a lower sales tax rate. There s a whole lot more for you to consider, but limited space here doesn t allow for it. Therefore, if you re still inclined to think that extending the UUT at this time is a good thing, please visit and review additional information so that at least you ll be making the most informed choice. Thank you for voting! Lawrence Johmann, Hayward resident, property owner, and businessman