The San Diego County Taxpayers Association Friday released its guide on local tax and school bond proposals going before voters in November.
The nonprofit group reviewed 29 total tax and school bond measures, “emphasizing the need for good management and fiscal responsibility.” The full guide states which measures the association supports or opposes.
The guide is based on “extensive municipal reviews, in-depth policy analysis, and thorough discussions on each measure’s impact on taxpayer costs and benefits,” according to the association.
For instance, the group said it opposes the city of San Diego’s proposed 1-cent sales tax, based on concerns with the city’s “past failures in managing essential services and core municipal functions.”
Last month, the San Diego City Council unanimously approved the ballot measure which, if approved in November, would increase the sales tax in the city by 1% per dollar to provide funds for infrastructure and city services.
As another example, the association said it supports the Southwestern Community College District’s bond proposal, thanks to confidence “in the program design and also their managerial acumen through a review of past performance.”
Haney Hong, the association’s president and CEO, said he was grateful to his colleagues for review of the tax measures.
“Since Joe and Jane Q Public don’t have the time to go through thousands of pages of policy, programs and budgets, we do the homework for you to make sure your interests are defended,” Hong added.
– City News Service
