The draft language for the countywide ballot measure, which is still being worked on by county counsel Bob Ryan, is discussed in today’s Bee. Oh, did I say measure? Make that measures, because the county is planning to circumvent (cf. GOB Bluth) the, you know, law, by keeping the tax and the use of the tax money as separate ballot items. (If the tax being voted on is for a specific purpose it requires a two-thirds majority.) This is the stupidest thing since No I don’t want to recall Gray Davis and Yes I want to replace him with Gallagher. (Definitely not how I voted on that.)
I’m no legal expert, but I really don’t see how that doesn’t still add up to two ballot measures that require a supermajority. How is the 2nd proposition worded in such a way as to not reference the aforementioned tax measure? I smell a rat here. I suppose it’s just politics (baby) but that doesn’t mean we have to just play along, despite what Roger Dickinson thinks.
Also if I am doing my math correctly… “ballot measures to raise nearly $1 billion in new sales taxes” and “quarter-cent sales tax increase, which would generate about $60 million a year” means the liberal Democrats in local government are shooting for making this a 15-year tax, not 10 years. Help us, Superman. No, not the young fake looking one, the old regular one.
On the other hand, maybe this gives an out to people who can’t in good conscience vote in favor of a sales tax increase (about which: I was remiss in not catching yesterday Dan Walters well-argued piece: a sales tax is the “most regressive form of government revenue because its effects are disproportionately heavy on those at the lowest income levels”) but still want to put their vote behind building an arena: You can vote no on the tax and yes on spending … it on the downtown arena and go to bed confused, but feeling like you did your part.
Keep your ears pealed today, pro or con.
P.S. I don’t mean to give them impression that I think the work of county counsel is not of the highest quality. As I understand it the county employs some of the sharpest legal minds in the state.
The Sac Rag 