Measure G, full text
CITY OF LINDSAY
IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS BY CITY ATTORNEY
MEASURE G
THE LINDSAY VITAL CITY SERVICES MEASURE
The Lindsay Vital City Services Measure proposes to raise revenue by authorizing a general transactions and use tax (“sales tax”) of three-quarters of a cent (.75 percent), and approving an ordinance adding Chapter 3.13 to Title 3 of the Lindsay Municipal Code. The tax would be paid in addition to the current state and local sales taxes and would be collected at the same time and in the same manner as existing sales taxes.
California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7285.9 authorizes the City to levy or increase a transactions and use tax (i.e. “sales tax”) at a rate of .25 percent or multiple thereof, for the general purposes of the city, if the ordinance proposing the tax is approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the city voting in an election on that issue. If approved by the voters, the sales tax will become operative no sooner than October 1, 2008.
The revenues from this tax are not designated for any specific purpose. The revenues may be used for general city functions, such as police protection including anti-gang programs, fire suppression services, code enforcement and other general services.
Julia M. Lew
City Attorney
ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE G
Lindsay has over 50% of the population living at or below the poverty level. There are also a substantial number, of senior citizens who live on a fixed income. This sale tax measure would put an undue hardship on all families. The City of Lindsay has one of, if not the highest, Water, Sewer, and Garbage Rates in Tulare County. Some of the citizen’s bills doubled because of the Utility Rate tax. By adding the Sales tax, to the Utility Rate tax it doubles the hardship on all the citizens here. The City OF Lindsay promised to fix the streets, when it imposed its Utility Rate Hike. Many of these streets are still in dire need of repair. But on March 6, 2008 the city did resurface the street the Mayor of Lindsay lives on. This tax will drive away customer’s money from Lindsay’s retail stores. Customers may go to another town to shop. There is no citizen oversight. The City Of Lindsay is on a spending spree, and it has got them in a hole. Now they want their citizens to bail them out. They can spend this tax money anyway they want. There is no accountability in this tax measure. They can use the tax money to hire “The Friends of Lindsay” to do lucrative jobs within the city. Like they did for the ex- police chief. Also we can’t stop them when they want to fund their “monuments to their egos”. Mainly: McDermont Sports Center and the Wellness Center. A $76 Million Dollar fiasco. That comes to approximately$6,909.09 for every citizen of Lindsay Measure G is unfair and unjustified. And it’s too much of a burden for us to bear.
s/ Timothy S Daubert
Lindsay Taxpayer and Registered Voter
P.O. Box 371
Lindsay, Ca. 93247
(559) 562-8041