TMC: Thirty Miles of Corruption

WHAT IS MEASURE Z?

Measure Z is a November ballot initiative that will increase the sales tax from 7.75% to 8.75% in the City, or in other words from 8-cents per dollar to 9-cents per dollar. Currently, the City of Riverside receives 1-cent per dollar in tax from the 8-cents with the balance going to the State and County. Measure Z will increase the City’s portion to 2-cents per dollar in sales tax.

WHY DO THEY SAY THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR MEASURE Z?

The City of Riverside has simply spent and continues to spend more money than it takes in. They have blamed a shortage of personnel in their finance department as well as bad accounting practices for their miserable performance, however, even after they knew or should have known that they were in deficit, they continued spending more money than they had. This money came from the city’s reserves.  An example of their actions is that $4 million of the $7.8 million 2015-2016 deficit was the result of knowingly giving the police department a pay raise that was unbudgeted and unfunded. The effect now is that they have to cut city services to balance the budget.

DID CITY MANAGER JOHN RUSSO GET THE MESSAGE FROM THE TAXPAYERS?

MY TOP TEN (10) REASONS FOR VOTING “NO”

#10. The City of Riverside’s portion of sales tax revenue will go up 100% or $50 million annually, while the actual annual deficit is only $10 million. This $50 million annual increase will continue for at least 20 years: ONE BILLION DOLLARS!!

#9. I believe that the City hired professional consultants at the cost to us of tens of thousands of dollars to manipulate our thinking about the need for this measure. This included the construction of supporting information and presentation materials, the use of wording that is misleading, and a highly questionable telephone survey with questions composed in a fashion designed to indicate citizen support. (1)

#8. Even though police and fire departments could have been left UNTOUCHED for budget cuts, I believe that they were instead included as leverage for a yes vote.

#7. As an example of the effect of the increase, purchasing a $35,000 vehicle will cost residents $350 more. And by the way, you can’t save the extra cost by buying in another city.

#6. Contrary to what the City may have implied, there is no written requirement within the measure to spend ANY of the sales tax increase on operational needs & capital improvements.

#5. The new City employees “Partnership Compensation Model” for some of the privileged city unions, provides larger compensation increases if revenue from Sales tax, Property Tax, Hotel Tax, and Utility Consumption Tax go up. The sales tax increase I believe is the first step toward that end with the others to follow.

Larger city employee raises = larger required pension contributions = larger future financial problems. I believe that personnel levels will spike as the City hires additional employees to soften the burden on current operational department employees.

#4. On top of the cost to residents if this measure passes, utility rates are expected to go up between 7% and 15% next year placing additional strain on household budgets.

#3. Measure A in 2013 which was approved by the voters, was supposed to secure our police and fire departments from the then present and future cuts. But it didn’t. Why should we believe that Measure Z will turn out differently? (2)

#2. About 16% or 52,000 of our neighbors live below the poverty level. These include senior citizens, the disabled, the homeless, and low wage earners. Personally, I don’t want them to have to make tough spending decisions while the City continues on their mindless spending spree. (3)

#1. First and foremost, the same group of individuals who through their ineptitude created the deficit and massive City debt, will make future final decisions on how to spend the huge additional revenue increase.

Approving this measure would be like letting your financial planner who lost you $10,000, have $50,000 a year more of your money to manage. You wouldn’t do that with your nest egg, why would you do it with YOUR tax dollars?

I feel that the City wants TOO MUCH, for TOO LONG, which will HURT TOO MANY, and will be administered by those TOO IRRESPONSIBLE.

I say let the city learn how to manage our money for the next 12 months, then create another ballot initiative with a ten (10) year term at a 1/4 to 1/2 cent increase. If they have demonstrated that they can be trusted with how they spend our money, we should consider approval.   – From the Desk of Ron Todar, Riverside Taxpayer

Here is what one honest former Press Enterprise journalist has to say:

https://www.facebook.com/debra.mayberry….

AXE THE TAX*****VOTE “NO” ON MEASURE Z

SOURCES:
(1) http://www.riversideca.gov/press_release…
(2) http://www.pe.com/articles/percent-81337…

MORE PROPAGANDA FROM THE FIRE FIGHTERS UNIONS: REMEMBER TAXPAYERS, DON’T SUCCUMB TO THEIR “EXTORTION” TACTICS OF LESS SERVICE AND DECREASE RESPONSE TIMES, I WOULD INTERPRET THIS AS A CRIMINAL ACT TO “SHAKE DOWN” THE TAXPAYERS!  THE FIRE UNIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE TUNE OF $100,000.00 TO PASS MEASURE Z.  REMEMBER THEY TOLD YOU THE SAME LINE WITH THE WATER MEASURE KNOWN AS MEASURE-A BACK IN 2013.  THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT THE TAXPAYER, THEY WILL PROFIT HIGHLY FROM MEASURE-Z IF IT PASSES.  WHY WOULD ANYONE CONTRIBUTE $100,000.00 IF THEY DIDN’T EXPECT TO GET ANYTHING FROM IT?  YOUR CITY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP IS AS FAULT EXPECIALLY MAYOR WILLIAM “RUSTY” BAILEY.

The propaganda on Measure-Z continues even in advertising on the Press Enterprise by Fire and Police Unions!

THIS IS ALL ABOUT UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITIES, FIRE AND POLICE ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING THEIR FAIR SHARE, IT’S DISPICABLE!  I BLAME OUR LEADERSHIP FOR UNFORTUNATELY PITTING AND CREATING TENSION BETWEEN THE TAXPAYERS (EMPLOYERS) AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES.  REMEMBER FIRE AND POLICE UNIONS ONLY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEMSELVES AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN A BUSINESS.

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S REGIONAL COUNTIES MOST, “NEGATIVE,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE!  YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “UNPOLITICALLY CORRECT.”  TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED.  I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU.  RATED ONE TWO ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS..  … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  CONTACT US:  thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com