Patch Blog: Measure UT

Lets talk

The salaries posted in the  sure stirred the pot. I don't know whether or not the numbers are accurate, but I do however believe that since these are public employees paid by tax payer dollars, we should have the accurate numbers.

Actual salaries and benefits is a separate question from whether or not we should pass Measure UT. The User Utility Tax was first implemented to make up for the revenue lose from Prop 13. The City of South Pasadena does not have many alternative sources of revenue.  We do not have a large business or industrial base. We do not have auto dealers, or large retail outlets to provide significant sales tax.  We have homes, retail shops and few small business. 

The State of California has been raiding city revenues for the last few years and will continue to do so. We can expect more of it. We need a reliable source of revenue.  Local taxes for local services, however we cannot pay more than we can afford.

If we are either unable or unwilling to pay the cost of our public services, we will have to merge with a larger city and loses our unified school district. We will be served by a large police and fire department rather than their own. Zoning code decisions over our neighborhoods will be set in the context of the needs of the larger city, not their own. That is fact. 

I hear promises that we can cut our revenues by 17%, get the same police and fire protection and have extra money to pave our streets and rebuild our infrastructure. If we can't trust the city council to negotiate good contracts our own small unions, what makes you think we can do better against LA County. Really it is that easy. Some people will believe anything.

We have to control expenses. Be honest with our employees. Honor commitments already made, and adjust our salaries to today's reality. We might lose a few employees, but we should expect turnover.  It is not right to promise that which can not be delivered.

Vote for Measure UT, and have an honest discussion with our unions. We can not pay them at the expense of letting our infrastructure collapse.

I am hosting a Town Hall Meeting at the South Pasadena Library Community Room next Tuesday, October 18, 2011, from 7:00 – 9:00 pm.

I am planning the topics. One could be: Measure UT. We can discuss the Rialto and the Redevelopment Project. The effects of Measure UT or the water rate increase.

Let me know what you think.