Let’s see if I’ve got this right. Signal [Hill Community] First wants to force the city to take a vote on future fees, assessments, etc. at an estimated cost of $30,000 per election. Such an unnecessary process, and its cost would be ridiculous in the best of economic times, but to propose this in the face of our current economic conditions is utterly insane.
In addition, the city would be required to hire some outside legal and accounting experts to analyze the planned expenditure. It seems that Signal [Hill Community] First doesn’t think the citizens of Signal Hill are smart enough to make a reasoned judgement regarding such expenditure.
Frankly, that’s an insult to the intelligence of the people of Signal Hill.
But it gets worse. If the money is to be used for business economic development, the developer would need to pay the $30,000 cost of taking a vote. No developer in their right mind would want to come to Signal Hill in the face of this kind of absurd requirement.
The petition also wants to reduce the term of a bond from 40 years to 20 years. It would be nice to pay off a bond or your mortgage in a shorter time, but you can only do this by raising the annual payment. So the city would be forced to increase its bond payments while every other city in the state is looking for ways to REDUCE costs.
You have to wonder sometimes if the proponents of such proposals live on the same planet as the rest of us. I sincerely urge all Signal Hill residents to give this petition the resounding NO it so clearly deserves. It offers solutions to problems that don’t exist.
Bill Yochum
Signal Hill
Disclosure: Yochum is a civil service commissioner for the City of Signal Hill.
TO THE CONTRARY, Bill Yocum, I believe the citizens/voters of Signal Hill are THE ONES SMART ENOUGH to make a reasoned judgment on whether THEY WANT TO PAY a NEW TAX, FEE, OR ASSESSMENT, proposed by the City Council.
The Taxpayer’s Right to Know and Vote Citizen’s Initiative seeks to GIVE RESIDENTS POWER.
It requires that WHEN THE CITY WANTS TO RAISE A NEW TAX/FEE/ASSESSMENT, the City has to give the taxpayer the following, WHICH IS THE LANGUAGE IN THE PETITION:
A. A description of the PURPOSE of the proposed sales tax, use tax, or property tax;
B. An ESTIMATE of all revenues to be collected;
C. IDENTIFICATION by category of the taxpayer and/or property upon whom or which the financial burden shall be imposed; the length of time of such imposition; and an estimate of the amount to be paid by each category of taxpayer or property;
D. FULL DISCLOSURE reflecting the proposed agreement of the City TO SHARE, GIVE OR UTILIZE the revenues generated by the proposed sales tax, use tax, or property tax WITH ANY ENTITY OR BUSINESS.
E. An IMPARTIAL financial and legislative analysis of the proposed sales tax, use tax, or property tax prepared by an independent law firm or accounting firm jointly selected by the proponents and opponents of the ballot measure.
All sales taxes, user taxes, or property taxes enacted by a vote of the electorate shall have an expiration date of no longer than ten (10) years from enactment. (STANDARD SUNSET CLAUSE USED IN MANY LAWS)
The cost of the impartial financial and legislative analysis shall be borne by the City. [BECAUSE IT IS THE CITY THAT IS INSISTING THAT A NEW TAX/FEE/ASSESSMENT MUST BE IMPOSED]
In the event THE CITY PROPOSES to enact a sales tax, use tax, or property tax in connection with an ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL, all fees and costs associated with the election shall be borne by the project applicant and/or developer, and shall not be reimbursed at a later date.
The final provision is to assure that the City DOES NOT turn to local taxpayers to COME UP WITH THE MONEY THEY LOST WHEN THE STATE CLOSED REDEVELOPMENT.
For your education, the Petition Drive, is to give VOTERS the right to decide if they want to change the City Charter TO GIVE THEMSELVES THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
Signing the Petition does not change the City Charter.
SIGNING THE PETITION gives registered voters in Signal Hill the ability to weight the pros and cons of HAVING THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT ECONOMIC PROJECTS ARE OF SUCH VALUE, THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET TO PAY FOR THEM.
I trust the voters. That is why I am a proponent of the Initiative.
Carol Churchill, former Mayor Signal Hill