OPINION: Measure Y Is Not a Tax Increase
Tax Helps Pay for Many Special Elements in Piedmont –
Since the passage of Proposition 13 in 1980, the residents of Piedmont have realized that for our community to have the things that we as a community value, we needed a City Services Tax. Our city has had such a tax since 1980, and we have continuously renewed it for the past thirty-two years. The tax is up for renewal this year and is on our ballot as MEASURE Y. It will be at the end of your ballot and is not an increase over the past four years. I urge you to vote YES ON MEASURE Y.
MEASURE Y helps pay for many of the special elements about our town that make us enjoy living here and coincidentally, help maintain our property values such as our beautiful parks and medians; well-maintained roads; the ability to use Oakland’s Library; great recreation programs that our kids enjoy that keep them safe; our recent Harvest Festival; the 4th of July Parade: I’m sure everyone gets my meaning.
If MEASURE Y doesn’t pass, we may not notice it quickly, but eventually we will have to see a decline in the city services we’ve come to rely upon. It’s impossible for the Council to cut $1.6 million from our yearly budget without it catching up to us somewhere. Who will it be? What will be cut? Something YOU value dearly? Piedmont’s one Public Works gardener? One less Schoolmates instructor at each school? No more YANA (You Are Not Alone) from the Police Department? Maybe fewer outings for the Recreation Department’s Strictly for Seniors group?
I know for me, it would be the library. I imagine if I were still on the Council, our contract with Oakland for use of the library would be on the chopping block. For me as a resident, that will hurt the most. I go to the Piedmont Branch probably once a week. I love the library. Please vote yes.
I hope everyone will vote YES ON MEASURE Y.
Thank you
Patty White, Piedmont Resident and Former Mayor
Editors’ Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Piedmont Civic Association. The Piedmont Civic Association does not support or oppose candidates or ballot measures.
Nothing will be cut, nothing. Since 2003 Salaries and pensions have increased $6,400,000 but total expenditures have slightly declined! Employees receive the most expensive benefits package in the state, per employee compensation averages $160,000 and Council has not addressed these runaway costs adequately. Considering the $3,100,000 of public money wasted on the Undergounding Debacle and Hills-SeaView Undergrounding litigation, plus the minimally $500,000 spent on the Blair Park Sports Fields “Gift,” not one dime of the last parcel tax went to essential city services. Stating there will be a loss of essential services is not borne out by the numbers.
Vote No on Y.
http://www.noonmeasurey.com