4d) Discussion and Possible Action Including Direction to Staff Regarding Potential Sales Tax for Submission to the Voters
(Sponsors: County Counsel and Executive Office)
From: Annemarie Weibel
To: Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
RE: Discussion of sales taxes for November 2022 and future elections and
Agenda Item 4D of the June 8, 2022 Board of Supervisors Meeting
Dear Supervisors,
I concur with all the issues raised in the June 5, 2022 memorandum from 4th. District Supervisor Dan Gjerde regarding agenda item 4D of the June 8, 2022 Board of Supervisors Meeting. I want to thank Supervisor Dan Gjerde for the clearly stated reasons and facts reflected in his memorandum. I also want to thank Supervisor John Haschak for expressing concerns about adding an additional sales tax measure on the November ballot.
I also agree with the comments shared by Jim Shields.
No other County tax should be competing with the Library Initiative. Discussions for a future sales tax can be contemplated after November of 2022. It will be successful if stakeholders throughout the County are all aboard, which is not the case now.
Jim Shields expressed in his comments the need for refining the mission, goals, objectives, staffing, and jurisdiction of the Water Agency. I agree that it is premature to be taking any action concerning agency funding now. To do so, as Jim Shields expressed, literally equates to positioning the cart before the horse.
Fellow Public Representatives, Today you will hopefully direct staff with your affirmative support, the continuation of the existing sales tax as charged currently throughout our County of Mendocino to carry forward a critical fiscal resource. The citizens we all serve must gain direct benefits in the annual approval and spending programs as you collect and authorize budget programs this existing sales tax can make possible.
I agree with staff that a level of flexibility coupled with accountability to achieve specific goals each budget year is needed.
A standing committee providing a budget program recommendation each year, with Fire/EMS/Fire Prevention, and the County Water Agency/Water Districts would provide the focus on current needs as changes occur over time. Such a program will allow for an approach that recently succeeded in establishing the Mendocino County Campground TOT Tax by a general tax ordinance requiring a 50% plus one majority but was accompanied by an advisory measure that gives citizen direction as to the priority for funding. You should approve limiting allocations to Fire/Water service provision/resiliency programs with a Standing Committee, advisory to the BOS as to the annual allocation programs. As a Brown Act Committee a continuing record and public participation will be the norm.
Your citizens need our best efforts in protecting the health and safety of all our communities from ongoing firestorm seasons and recurring climate events that challenge our well being. As a fellow representative working to support our Fire/EMS/Fire Prevention and Water District workers I advise the reauthorization of the existing sales tax from the sunsetting Measure "B" allocation redirected as a general tax, with an advisory measure for voter consideration that forms the Standing Committee process and it's advisory role.
This would achieve the request of the two Mendocino County Fire Associations to become a part of the BOS annual budget program and help fund needed Water District/Agency programs. The co-ordination of these two interdependent service providers (fire, water) categories will enhance community benefits and the appropriate capture of grant funding programs needing local share dollars.
The need for additional funding to support local Fire/EMS service providers and Water District/Agency resiliency programs are the stuff of present emergency declarations involving fires and drought but also the many volunteer Fire/EMS responses provided in this now endemic public health emergency.
My work for the Fire Associations and as a Mendocino County Local Agency Formation Commission representative for Special Districts gives my a unique perspective to make this recommendation. The placement on the November Ballot of this issue lets the voters set the priorities they will agree to or reject. The repeat of the Campground TOT example will give maximized accountability (the Standing Committee) and give the needed flexibility to respond to each years priorities and opportunities.
I am at my annual Doctors appointment today so this is my comment of record and for your valued consideration, Tony Orth .
From: Jim Shields, Member, Mendocino County Water Agency Steering Committee
To: Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
RE: Discussion of sales taxes for November 2022 and future elections and
Agenda Item 4D of the June 8, 2022 Board of Supervisors Meeting
I fully concur with the June 3, 2022 memorandum sent by the the Citizens for the Library Initiative 2022, and with the June 5, 2022 memorandum sent by 4th District Supervisor Dan Gjerde regarding the disposition of Agenda Item 4D of the June 8, 2022 Board of Supervisors Meeting.
Specifically, I want to briefly address the issue of the proposed sales tax as a funding mechanism for the as yet-to-be determined final action of re-establishing the Mendocino County Water Agency as a stand-alone agency.
Unless and until a final decision is made regarding refining the mission, goals, objectives, staffing, and jurisdiction of the Water Agency, it is premature to be taking any action concerning agency funding. To do so, literally equates to positioning the cart before the horse.
In fact, based on my three decades of experience as a local government, public water utility official, most county residents are not even aware of the existence of a Water Agency.
Succinctly stated, the proposed sales tax measure is both premature and bereft of any broad-based public support at this time.
From: Annemarie Weibel
To: Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
RE: Discussion of sales taxes for November 2022 and future elections and
Agenda Item 4D of the June 8, 2022 Board of Supervisors Meeting
Dear Supervisors,
I concur with all the issues raised in the June 5, 2022 memorandum from 4th. District Supervisor Dan Gjerde regarding agenda item 4D of the June 8, 2022 Board of Supervisors Meeting. I want to thank Supervisor Dan Gjerde for the clearly stated reasons and facts reflected in his memorandum. I also want to thank Supervisor John Haschak for expressing concerns about adding an additional sales tax measure on the November ballot.
I also agree with the comments shared by Jim Shields.
No other County tax should be competing with the Library Initiative. Discussions for a future sales tax can be contemplated after November of 2022. It will be successful if stakeholders throughout the County are all aboard, which is not the case now.
Jim Shields expressed in his comments the need for refining the mission, goals, objectives, staffing, and jurisdiction of the Water Agency. I agree that it is premature to be taking any action concerning agency funding now. To do so, as Jim Shields expressed, literally equates to positioning the cart before the horse.
Sincerely, Annemarie Weibel
Fellow Public Representatives, Today you will hopefully direct staff with your affirmative support, the continuation of the existing sales tax as charged currently throughout our County of Mendocino to carry forward a critical fiscal resource. The citizens we all serve must gain direct benefits in the annual approval and spending programs as you collect and authorize budget programs this existing sales tax can make possible.
I agree with staff that a level of flexibility coupled with accountability to achieve specific goals each budget year is needed.
A standing committee providing a budget program recommendation each year, with Fire/EMS/Fire Prevention, and the County Water Agency/Water Districts would provide the focus on current needs as changes occur over time. Such a program will allow for an approach that recently succeeded in establishing the Mendocino County Campground TOT Tax by a general tax ordinance requiring a 50% plus one majority but was accompanied by an advisory measure that gives citizen direction as to the priority for funding. You should approve limiting allocations to Fire/Water service provision/resiliency programs with a Standing Committee, advisory to the BOS as to the annual allocation programs. As a Brown Act Committee a continuing record and public participation will be the norm.
Your citizens need our best efforts in protecting the health and safety of all our communities from ongoing firestorm seasons and recurring climate events that challenge our well being. As a fellow representative working to support our Fire/EMS/Fire Prevention and Water District workers I advise the reauthorization of the existing sales tax from the sunsetting Measure "B" allocation redirected as a general tax, with an advisory measure for voter consideration that forms the Standing Committee process and it's advisory role.
This would achieve the request of the two Mendocino County Fire Associations to become a part of the BOS annual budget program and help fund needed Water District/Agency programs. The co-ordination of these two interdependent service providers (fire, water) categories will enhance community benefits and the appropriate capture of grant funding programs needing local share dollars.
The need for additional funding to support local Fire/EMS service providers and Water District/Agency resiliency programs are the stuff of present emergency declarations involving fires and drought but also the many volunteer Fire/EMS responses provided in this now endemic public health emergency.
My work for the Fire Associations and as a Mendocino County Local Agency Formation Commission representative for Special Districts gives my a unique perspective to make this recommendation. The placement on the November Ballot of this issue lets the voters set the priorities they will agree to or reject. The repeat of the Campground TOT example will give maximized accountability (the Standing Committee) and give the needed flexibility to respond to each years priorities and opportunities.
I am at my annual Doctors appointment today so this is my comment of record and for your valued consideration, Tony Orth .
June 7, 2022
From: Jim Shields, Member, Mendocino County Water Agency Steering Committee
To: Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
RE: Discussion of sales taxes for November 2022 and future elections and
Agenda Item 4D of the June 8, 2022 Board of Supervisors Meeting
I fully concur with the June 3, 2022 memorandum sent by the the Citizens for the Library Initiative 2022, and with the June 5, 2022 memorandum sent by 4th District Supervisor Dan Gjerde regarding the disposition of Agenda Item 4D of the June 8, 2022 Board of Supervisors Meeting.
Specifically, I want to briefly address the issue of the proposed sales tax as a funding mechanism for the as yet-to-be determined final action of re-establishing the Mendocino County Water Agency as a stand-alone agency.
Unless and until a final decision is made regarding refining the mission, goals, objectives, staffing, and jurisdiction of the Water Agency, it is premature to be taking any action concerning agency funding. To do so, literally equates to positioning the cart before the horse.
In fact, based on my three decades of experience as a local government, public water utility official, most county residents are not even aware of the existence of a Water Agency.
Succinctly stated, the proposed sales tax measure is both premature and bereft of any broad-based public support at this time.