Measure B: Keeping Taxes Low and Making them Fair
Having read the details of Measure B, what is clear is that it’s designed to keep taxes low and make them fair. First, it keeps taxes low: It does not increase tax rates at all. (Contrary to a recent rumor about increasing the tax on electricity bills, for example.) The fact is that Measure B would continue the current Utility Users’ Tax (UUT) at a rate of 2.5%. This rate is lower than those charged by 90% of the other 142 California cities who charge UUTs.
Sacramento residents, for example, pay 7%. Rancho Cordova’s 2.5% is among the very lowest in the whole state, and Measure B preserves this same rate. It keeps taxes low. Second, Measure B makes taxes more fair, by eliminating a tax loophole. Currently some Rancho Cordovans are unfairly burdened because others are not paying UUT due to the types of technology they use.
Measure B would update the rules to apply the same 2.5% rate to specified new technologies, that currently applies to traditional land-line telephones. People with land-line phones should not be left paying for everyone else. Residents of over 40 other California communities have already fixed their UUTs to close this loophole in the old version, and we need to fix ours too.
Measure B makes taxes more fair for all Rancho Cordovans. Also, Measure B protects services to Rancho Cordovans by blocking the State and County from taking away the money to balance their own budgets. Under today’s rules we’re at risk of that happening, and the risk is getting worse as the State faces large deficits. Measure B fixes the problem by preventing them from taking away services that Rancho Cordovans rely on – including our police and vital code enforcement.
Taxes should be low and fair. In fact, our nation’s independence was started because taxes were not low and fair. Fortunately, today we have a voting process and Measure B to take care of that for us. We don’t have to dump tea into the harbor under cover of night. All we have to do is vote Yes and pass it.
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Short URL: http://www.ranchocordovapost.com/?p=3443
Posted by Geoffrey Sakala
on Apr 28 2009. Filed under Viewpoints.
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This is a tax increase during a severe recession. If it was really about making the tax more fair, then the proposal would be approximately revenue neutral — broaden the tax but also reduce the rate.
A good point is made though that the rate which is charged by Rancho Cordova is 4.5 points lower than the City of Sacramento and lower than 90% of all California cities. What do others think are the pros or cons of Measure B?
One of the strong points for me is that a YES vote is future oriented in that our city will not lose money over time because of outdated technology. It is silly to think that if my household were to switch to a cable/phone package from our standard land-line phone, that we would no longer be paying a UUT (Utility Users’ Tax). I’m not big on tax at all, but to have our city lose revenue over time because of outdated technology is not a good situation.
The fair part is really about residents carrying the UUT together rather than the focus of the current UUT being placed on residents who utilize certain technologies only.
We all talk about how we want to see Rancho Cordova improve and so we have to consider if Measure B is a critical way to help keep funds within city limits and help keep some of the vital city services intact that we depend upon.
Richard,
One of the issues the city faces with the way the UUT is now setup is that city looses revenue as people change from their old style landlines to cells and bundled communications.
With other revenue sources tight, or in even in decline, because of the falling property taxes, the city really will need this measure to prevent some serious service cuts to this community.
This is not some tax grab by Rancho. Almost 50 other cities have ALREADY taken these steps with their UUT and we are still about th elowest of all 150 communities with a UUT.
Please join me in opposing Measure B, which will increase our TAXES. I have just finished perusing the details as specified in the Sample Ballot.
First of all, I want to know what the existing law states and how the new proposal changes it. That is missing. Duh!
If no uses are subtracted from the tax and other uses are added, it is an increase in the tax for most voters.
Based on bookkeeping rules, there will be another cost to business added.
Presently, this tax is already collected on certain services at the same rate.
With revenues decreasing, politicians are again tying to conceal their need to spend more.
This is an effort to scare the population into thinking that we will be doomed without the added tax and city services will be cut.
How many of us have had to cut back on our spending while our agencies think they need to spend more? The city must manage its revenue. If families suffer in this economy, then so should the government. Right? How can taking additional money away from our families, help their dire needs? Can our city fathers put more food in our mouths?
I read the measure and without stating what it is replacing, the whole thing was confusing. I would say that based on STAR testing about 10% of the city voters would understand the measure … and that is exactly what the city wants….to be able to explain to all of us what the measure REALLY means!!
In the ballot, you have Guy Anderson from Gold River as a signed supporter of the measure. What am I missing? Is Gold River voting on this?
The city of Rancho Cordova sent out a brochure re this measure that almost made me sick cause it reminded me of the info sent out re the Park Assessment. Yes, an independent Audit…just like the Park District. And who paid for the brochure….you got it, you and I, cause it was with Taxpayer’s money.
It is time to send our electeds a strong message:
Vote NO on Measure B, please.
David
This is a NEW TAX. No matter what you call it it is a new tax. Its another way for the city to get your money. I can see a fee(tax) on garbage collection because the city bargains for the residents rates. But a tax on Cell Phones, Internet (telecommunications), Electric, phones, gas. Who are we kidding this is another Tax to be spent on ????(Pursuit of city of the year for example). The city pamphlet sent out at taxpayer expense was full of misstatements, threats. The department who put out the pamphlet did not even have the guts to put their name on it.
Measure B is another NEW tax!
Check out the Post posting. They claim the 2.5% new tax is smaller than 90%\of the 142 communities that have a UUT. What they do not tell you is the other 30,872 communities DO NOT have a UUT Tax at all. In the mist of all the threats of reduced services the city is hiring another,yes, that makes 7 code enforcement people. That is one code person for every 2000 households. At the same time we still only have 5 police officers on duty at any one time. That is the same number as before we became a city(3 deputies and 2 CHP). The city deleted two building inspectors and one street maintenance worker positions to cause citizens the most inconveniences and problems, as a threat to get you to vote for measure B. Once B becomes a tax it will increase every year. Vote NO on B and take your family to the movies with the savings.
Measure B will NOT increase every year. Where are you getting your information? That is absolutely 100% wrong!!! Voters would have to approve a rate increase – that’s the bottom line. The city has to listen to us on this matter. They cannot just change the UUT rate any time they want. If they could, I would not be voting YES. Measure B does NOT increase the rate of the UUT. It keeps it right where it is at 2.5%.
Regarding code enforcement officers, don’t we need more? That is music to my ears to have more code and police officers in our city. I don’t know what you mean when you say that there is one code person per every 2000 households. What do you mean? Rancho Cordova has a population near 60,000 and with only 6 or 7 officers, your data does not add up. I’d say it is more like one code officer for every 10,000 residents.
What I reject are certain people in our community putting out information that is misleading at best in order to increase our taxes. The so-called proponents on this site are are members of the “For Measure B” group. I suggest that the so-called “No on measure B” group is fictitious and a plant so as to make those opposed to this measure look stupid. Could someone please print the names of the “No on measure B” committee?
In my mind, it is true that if this measure passes, your personal UUT tax will increase much more than what is has been. While the tax rate stays at 2.5%, so many other services will be added that cause your out-of-pocket taxes to increase. Let me explain. If you now pay $10 and after this measure passes, you pay $15 because of the added services, then your tax for these services increases 33%. Sure, it is true that the tax rate remains 2.5% but your monthly bill for UUT increases geometrically. That fact cannot be disputed.
For proponents to state that increasing taxes are fair because some of us who do not pay taxes on newer technologies, is bogus. All of us today pay the fair rate of taxes based on the accepted legislation. What we do not know is how approving this measure continually adds new utility services to the tax. If Measure B is approved, there will be no limit to the services that the City Can tax without our approval.
We now know, those in our community who support TAX INCREASES. In future elections, those who support the new taxes will be identified. It was about time our elected officials took a stand. Now, having said that, I will not support local any politician or citizen that has voted to accept these new Taxes.
This is strictly about raising our TAXES. I do not support new Taxes. I strongly recommend voting against Measure B. However, those that want this measure approved, tell me analytically where my logic is wrong. I will be happy to argue these points.
DAI
Actually, I have to laugh…even I can make a mistake! In the above example or a bill increasing from $10 to $15, it is actually a 50% increase in tax. So, while the tax rate remains the same, your actual taxes increase 50%. So the challenge to those who want this measure to pass, can you guarantee that the average, actual out-if-pocket tax increase will be only 2.5%? If you can, then I will support it. If you can’t, then you should join with me and vote NO.
In general, this Measure B will result in a huge tax increase for most of our families during a time when most of us are suffering. While supporters of Measure B say that it is Fair, actually this measure is an insult to Fairness and I believe that our leaders who support this measure during these bad economic times should be held accountable in the future.
We now have an issue for the voters: Do you want to support a candidate that will raise your taxes? The names are now available.
David