The following letter to the editor was published in the El Segundo Herald newspaper (HeraldPublications.com) on Thursday, January 12, 2012 in the Letters section on page 14. The El Segundo Herald has a strict 250-word limit, including the title.
Collaboration and Careful Consideration
As former mayors, we have all experienced firsthand the need to make tough decisions necessary to safeguard the well being of the city and its people. While circumstances differed during each of our tenures, there was consistently a collaborative effort of the Council and community to develop fair, reasonable means of meeting our town’s needs.
The process surrounding the acreage tax increase contradicts the successful tradition of discussing fiscal needs with stakeholders, diffusing potential conflicts and crafting effective solutions the community can support. The introduction of this item lacked transparency, and it’s unclear whether all council members were even aware that City staff was working on the issue. Uses of the revenues were not clearly defined. Proceeds of the tax will go into the general fund with no restrictions on how they will be spent and no accountability to taxpayers.
Finally, the entire process to rush this tax to the ballot will take less than one month, not nearly enough time to get this right. If voters are going to be asked to support a tax increase of this magnitude, it’s imperative that enough time be allowed to perform the high level of due diligence essential to credibly demonstrate the need for and feasibility of such a tax. It’s also vitally important that extensive public discussion be conducted before – not after – the measure is placed on the ballot.
We encourage the Council to table a vote on this issue until these critical elements have been satisfactorily addressed.
Gordon Stephens, Dick Van Vranken,
Bill Bue, Sandy Jacobs and
Kelly McDowell
El Segundo Police Officers' Association (ESPOA) Exposed