There are some serious problems with the proposed Clean Water tax (they call it a fee, but any time government takes our money it’s a tax) and the election being run to get it passed.
First, the election ballots have the property owners name on them, so it’s not a secret ballot. Those compiling the results of the election get to know how someone voted. That goes against the American way of elections.
Second, foreigners can vote. Since it’s a Proposition 218 election, in which only property owners get to vote – which I don’t have a problem with, since they’re the ones who will be paying the additional “fee” included in their property tax bill. But, many properties in California are owned by foreigners and/or foreign companies. That means they get to vote. That’s not the American way of elections, either!
Third, the campaign being waged to pass the tax is being run by the county’s Clean Water Program, and the mailings to promote it are funded by our tax dollars! Tax-dollar funded campaigning to pass another tax? Really? The craziest part – although to be fair, Clean Water Program Manager Don Freitas stated it was a mistake by a staffer at the company that was hired to print and mail the campaign material – the first mailing hit the homes on the day of the vote by the county Board of Supervisors, when they decided whether or not to allow the vote to go forward. (The election was going to happen anyway, since there wasn’t enough protest votes to stop it).
Fourth, ballots will be counted by a certified public accounting firm, Carol Keane & Associates, based in Walnut Creek and not the County Elections Division of the County Clerk’s Office. So, how can there be any accountability or public oversight when the ballots are counted, like other elections?
Fifth, and the most important part, is the tax really necessary? While if it passes, it will generate about $8 million a year, that’ s only a third of the estimated $25 million a year that’s claimed to be needed to clean up the water ways in the county. While I agree there’s a need, since it’s such a high priority, why doesn’t the county budget for the entire $25 million in their budget of $1.2 billion?
With all the flaws in this election this proposed tax should be rejected and the Board of Supervisors should just reprioritize their spending for 2012-13 and include the $25 million cost for the clean water program in next year’s budget when they adopt it in June. Your ballot must be received by 5:00 p.m. on April 6, 2012, which means you need to mail it a few days before.
In addition, it’s clear some new state legislation is needed to clean up the Proposition 218 election ballot process, eliminating the name on the ballot of the voter to keep it a secret ballot and eliminate the right of foreign property owners from voting in American elections.
Allen Payton, Publisher
P.S. Just got this additional problem from a reader – “Another problem is that the list of property owners is not current and I have personal knowledge of a property foreclosed last January and the ballot was still sent to the foreclosed property owner.” So, now some renter or renter can vote that ballot and mail it in.
