ZOMBIE SALES TAX RETURNS YET AGAIN

Richard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax FightersRichard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax Fighters 10 Comments

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SALES TAX IS NOT DEAD YET!

We enjoyed some brief success yesterday (Monday, 26 July, 2010) when Donna Frye threw a monkey wrench into the San Diego City Council majority’s plan to put a sales tax on the ballot. As you probably all know by now, she joined with Carl DeMaio and Kevin Faulconer to torpedo a sales tax increase that the rest of the union-beholden Councilmembers wanted.

Folks – as they used to say in the old Westerns about the attacking Native Ameicans — “here they come again!”

In fact, taxpayers must be TWICE as concerned. With Frye’s new proposal, the Council can now push forward a sales tax increase that is disguised as “comprehensive reform.” Does anyone actually believe that our labor-union-labeled city council is going to pass anything approaching “comprehensive reform? If you want a belly laugh response, ask the labor union bosses!

Frye uses a smokescreen in her proposal, essentially taking more taxpayer money today, while telling voters “trust us, we’ll make those reforms if you just give us more money.” However, there are absolutely NO requirements that the City actually do anything resembling reform!

Donna even said she couldn’t support a sales tax hike without it being combined with reforms to ultimately solve the problem. This nebulous “maybe we’ll think about it taxpayers” reforms is far from it.

One thing I can promise: If passed, the (currently proposed 2 year) “temporary” sales tax increase will NOT be temporary. The city spending addicts will get hooked on the revenue while making no meaningful reforms, and then they will promise Armageddon if the voters don’t vote to renew the tax for “a few more years.” And the core pitch will be “this (extension of the tax) is NOT a tax increase! Sadly, that works WAY too often with voters.

If the Council puts this on the ballot, I can’t wait to destroy it — along with the new City Hall. The voters will easily connect the dots on these two props. Remember, the sales tax revenue can be spent on anything — it will NOT be limited to public safety as proponents will posture.

As P. J. O’Rourke once said about national health insurance – “We need to take this thing out behind the barn and kill it with an ax.”

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Comments 10

  1. Looks like the school parcel tax will also stay on the ballot.

    A new San Diego City Hall: $294 million
    A school parcel tax: $98
    A half cent sales tax increase

    The chance to vote no on all of them at once…priceless.

  2. Post
    Author

    Actually, the chances of killing all three in the same election is FAR better than killing just one. “Just Say No” is a philosophy easily adopted by voters.

    At this point, I actually hope the doomed parcel tax is not rescinded. The sales tax will be a battle — the parcel tax will be a turkey shoot. That school tax needs a 2/3 vote.

    Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I can’t wait!

  3. Sure Donna, we’ll pass a new tax in exchange for the SAME DAMN REFORMS WE PASSED ALREADY.

    You are a joke. With bad hair.

  4. Of course Jerry Sanders and his staff are absolutely loving Donna’s proposal. They are working the business community right now to get them to support it.

  5. Post
    Author

    When there’s not a construction contract attached to a tax hike, the “business community” (essentially controlled by the builders and developers) will not likely support it. At least, that’s the way it looks at this point.

    It’s pretty clear that the RETAIL business community will not support it. But will they step up and actively OPPOSE it? That’s another question.

    But I’m encouraged by the Asian business community (mostly in the retail business) has come forward to oppose this measure. I’m optimistic that broader business opposition will develop.

    I think we can beat this sales tax measure regardless of the business support. But I’d like to see us CRUSH it to send the needed message to city hall.

  6. Aside from fueling my argument that you need to expand your cable service beyond bad horror movies and ancient westerns, this is a great article and encouraging to see it being redistributed.

  7. Post
    Author
  8. Looks like the wheels are coming of the “tax ’em to death” bus.

    1. School parcel tax…on/off/on again – will go down in flames

    2. City half cent tax – emergency meeting tomorrow..this same kind of urgency was needed five years ago.

    3. And now this letter I found on VoSD from Downtown Partnership to Mayor asking for a veto on new city hall because they know the voters will kill it: http://tinyurl.com/36ntc27

    This all reminds me of the last days of Enron.

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