Will the Encinitas Mayor and City Council ever learn? Will they ever respect the intelligence of their constituents?
We’ve seen this play before, and it seems they’re at it again. This time, they’re touting new uses for the tax increase revenue, but once again, there’s no clear, accountable plan. Sound familiar?
Let me take you back to 2006 when the City Council hired an expensive consultant to push a tax increase. The consultant boasted of their ability to craft and pass propositions, and they named it Prop C, the “Clean Water Initiative.”
After all, who would vote against clean water?
As president of the Encinitas Taxpayers Association, I researched federal and state clean water laws and the city’s compliance. We found that Encinitas was already compliant, but “clean water” sounded better than “general fund.”
We suspected the revenue would be used at the council’s discretion for pet projects, raises, and pension obligations, with little accountability.
The voters saw through it. Prop C failed, with 61% rejecting it. We couldn’t quantify exactly how much the city spent to mislead the voters, but we took comfort in knowing the people won that round.
Now, we have Measure K, a sales tax increase with no catchy name or feel-good packaging. The promise? A committee to decide how to spend the money.
Unlike Prop C, where the council stayed in the shadows, Mayor Tony Kranz is now one of Measure K’s biggest cheerleaders, even calling it “more important than my race for mayor.” Really?
Can the mayor look a struggling small business owner in the eye and convince them this tax hike is good for them? Can he tell voters already struggling with rising rents, fuel prices, and food costs that they need to pay even more in sales taxes for a committee to decide how to “help” them?
It’s unfortunate that the Encinitas Taxpayers Association isn’t as active as it once was. We successfully campaigned against measures like this, using mailers, yard signs, and interviews. I hope social media can fill the gap and help spread the word that this is the same old playbook, just with a new tax increase.
Join me in rejecting Measure K.
Bill Rodewald
Former President of the Encinitas Taxpayers Association
1 comment
Thanks Bill!
This sales tax increase is ostensensibly claiming to be for infrastructure improvements, but that is NOT guaranteed in writing. In other words, the new council can, and if Tony were re-elected, most likely will spend it as they please.
Hopefully, other residents will see through this ploy and not reward Mayor Kranz for his blatant overspending, especially for vanity projects, when flooding issues, train noise, street upgrades and maintenance remain sadly lagging behind.
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