Why Vista's sales tax increase deserves defeat

By: RICHARD RIDER - Commentary | Saturday, October 14, 2006 6:35 PM PDT ∞

A recent North County Times editorial gave tepid, low-priority support for Proposition L, the Vista sales tax increase measure, based on the projects promised. But this deceptive proposition deserves a resounding "No" vote this November ---- for a number of reasons.

First, read our solid opposition ballot arguments at http://tinyurl.com/jqdhk. Then consider these additional points:

1. This "temporary" 30-year tax will stay forever. It's like giving heroin to addicts for three decades, then asking them to end their binge. Come renewal time, the city politicians will declare that they will close down much of the police and fire department if voters don't continue the tax. Apparently no such California "temporary" tax enacted by the voters has ever been allowed to expire.

2. Backers claim the city is not getting enough revenue. But according to the city's own finance department, in the last 10 years, general revenue has risen 109 percent. The city should be awash in money. The cliche fits ---- it's not a revenue problem; it's a spending problem.

3. The promised improvements are not binding. Read the measure carefully. Money raised by this tax can be spent on anything the city council wants. Anything! This means that Vistans are at the mercy of not only today's politicos but of city leaders for the next 30 years.

National City, which just passed a similar sales tax increase for "public safety" in June, is the most recent victim of this recurring con game. Within 30 days of this "critically needed" tax passing, the city politicians entered into insane negotiations with the San Diego Chargers to move the team to National City. The politicians gleefully admitted that they could have never gone after the Chargers ---- offering hundreds of millions of dollars of subsidies ---- if the sales tax increase hadn't passed.

4. Don't be fooled. This tax is to pay for one thing ---- opulent city employee compensation. City salaries, once lower than private sector pay, are now significantly higher than private workers receive. Even worse, Vista city worker pensions are several times higher than what the average private sector worker receives.

Yes, Vista politicians, like every city in San Diego County, recently gave their employees (and themselves!) huge, unfunded, retroactive pension increases, not to mention gold-plated health care benefits. Suddenly the city finds far too much of its budget going for pay and perks. Rather than control this giveaway, the politicians, under the "guidance" of the city public employee unions, are running a scam ---- raising taxes for what in reality is runaway employee costs.

5. Make no mistake ---- the city labor unions are behind the campaign. With $60,000 raised so far by backers, the biggest contributor is the police labor union. When a "volunteer" comes to the door to pitch this proposition, almost surely it is a city employee. They understand what is at stake here. To add insult to injury, many if not most city employees don't even live in Vista ---- they and their families won't be paying the tax.

6. This has been a sleazy campaign, ranging from immoral strategy to possible illegal activity. They won't debate the issues in a public forum.

If the tax were earmarked for the purposes stated, it would require a two-thirds vote. To qualify this measure for a "simple majority" election, backers promise the projects but know that they have zero legal obligation to spend the money as promised.

The city uses taxpayer money to push this effort. Vista's "informational" Web site is in reality a taxpayer-paid ad for the sales tax. Even more troubling was the use of the city theater for a "Yes on L" rally, complete with a free showing of the current play afterward. Who authorized and paid for this use of city property and for the ticket giveaway?

7. Finally, consider who opposes this measure. In addition to San Diego Tax Fighters, the more centrist San Diego County Taxpayers Association opposes this measure and co-wrote our ballot argument. This is significant, given that SDCTA supports many tax and most bond measures. In addition, former Vista politicians Ed Estes and General Richard Cooke ---- who understand the need for fiscal frugality in government ---- also signed our opposition argument.

This sales tax will cost Vista residents more, while harming local businesses by driving consumers away. Oceanside, San Marcos, Carlsbad, Escondido and even San Diego are getting along without raising their sales tax. So should Vista.

Reject this tax increase.

Richard Rider is chairman of San Diego Tax Fighters.