Taxation and Representation

An initiative that will be appearing on the upcoming June 3 ballot proposes to increase Watsonville’s sales tax by one-half percent to help fund public safety. The city has been telling us that an oversight committee has been appointed to see that money from this sales tax increase will go completely to fund police and fire. 

I now direct the readers to a letter to the editor written by Cathy Perez which appeared in the February 25 edition of the Register Pajaronian newspaper.  Ms Perez accurately pointed out that an oversight committee “has absolutely no way of preventing any City Council from allowing any City Manager to do as he wishes with taxpayers’ hard earned money.” So let me clarify that while an oversight committee can voice opinions and make recommendations, it in no way has the authority to trump the decision of an elected official or of the City Council. In fact, at the last City Council meeting on February 25, Councilwoman Nancy Bilicich posed a question as to whether the city could “borrow” funds from this tax increase for other purposes. Administrative Services Director Ezequiel Vega responded that they could, but that it would require approval by the City Council. Oversight Committee Vice Chair John Martinelli added that the Oversight Committee has the power to reject such a proposal. But reject all they want, the City Council and City Manager still have the power “to rob Peter to pay Paul” as they are doing by “borrowing” money from the water fund to reimburse the state $4.6 million in Redevelopment funds. So I think it’s time for the city to drop the deception and tell the voters the truth. And to resident Bill Neighbors who stated in the February 27 edition of the Register Pajaronian that “I would trust them with my checkbook”: REALLY?

Speaking of the city wanting to separate us from more of our hard earned money, I want to remind the voters of an action that took place a few months back.  My understanding was that some city officials who were being paid a $500 per month car allowance had that allowance taken away; but then that $500 was added to their monthly salary. I’m not clear on how this saves the city or the taxpayers any money. Being a person who is very familiar with public employee retirement systems, I believe this is known as “pension spiking”, meaning that the higher monthly salary will translate into higher returns at retirement time. I was just looking at my property tax bill, and in the itemization column I saw an amount of almost $250 going to “Watsonville City – retirement.” So I have to wonder if this pension spiking is eventually going to cost the taxpayers more money. Food for thought when considering the fact they want another half percent sales tax from us.

I remember at the City Council meeting when the upcoming “Naming of Public Places” was officially placed on the June ballot, Mayor Karina Cervantez voiced concern that this initiative would prevent the poor and disenfranchised from having a voice in the naming of public places. First, this is not true – anyone in the community can show up for a meeting of the City Council or any of the commissions to voice their input. Secondly, if Mayor Cervantez is so concerned about the poor and disenfranchised, then why is she not speaking out against the city wanting to stick it to them with the highest sales tax rate in the county? After all, it is fact that sales tax increases hurt the poor the most.

Speaking of disenfranchisement, Mayor Cervantez’ husband, Assemblyman Luis Alejo, has introduced Assembly Bill 1795 which seeks to override the signatures of over 4000 Watsonville registered voters who want to be able to vote for their own city council representative. Looks like Alejo continues to try to pull the puppet strings from Sacramento to try to create his own government rather than respecting the voice of the voters and the democratic process in general.

I am a huge fan of our police and fire departments, and I would love to see them get the money they need to run 100%. On the other hand, a lot of voters I have spoken to are asking why we should agree to give the city more money in the form of higher sales tax considering the history of deception and lack of transparency.  To add to that, we have a majority on the City Council who seem to hold as a greater priority their little “club” maintaining its power on City Council rather than fairness  and a truly democratic process; and with their friend Assemblyman Alejo continuing to pull the levers and turn the knobs from Sacramento. Yet they have the nerve to ask the same people they are disenfranchising, the voters, for more sales tax money ? Really? Just some things to consider when you cast your vote.