In an e-mail I received January 30, ex-Chico city manager and sales tax increase proponent Tom Lando told me, "yes, we are funding a community survey."
The question is, is this survey intended to "test the water" and tell him whether or not he wants to spend the money to float a petition, or will he try to use this survey to get council to go over the collective public head and place the issue on the ballot without a petition? City Council makes that choice.
Follow this at http://chicotaxpayers.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/make-them-carry-a-petition/
About Me: I am an old dog trying to rout some foxes from the public hen house.
However they try to do it, the last thing Chico needs is more taxes - remember Gov Brown is already putting a 1% sales tax and a 1-2% income tax increase on the ballot for November, so any specific Chico sales tax would be IN ADDITION to a higher sales tax, so we could have nearly 10% sales tax, on top of one of the highest incomes taxes in the nation. It does not take a genius to work out this will drive away jobs - I run a business and could easily redirect some of our purchasing outside Chico if that happens, and yes we do pay sales tax on out of state purchases but I would not pay an additional Chico tax. We are overtaxed already - I would suggest re engineering how government works and getting better value for money in all government expenditures especially employing people is the answer. We cannot have a solvent government when people can retire on $150K per year after 20 years service with lifetime healthcare coverage.
Juanita - why don't you run for City Council ?
"yes, we are funding a community survey."
We? We?? Who are we???
Is Lando paying for this out of his own pockets or is the taxpayer going to get stuck with this? If Lando pays will taxpayers have to reimburse him?
My guess is that Lando and his gang of rent seekers will fund it themselves and then find a way to stick the taxpayers. If you don't know what rent seeking is here ya go:
"In economics, rent-seeking is an attempt to obtain economic rent by manipulating the social or political environment in which economic activities occur, rather than by creating new wealth. For example, spending money on political lobbying in order to be given a share of wealth that has already been created."
Describes Lando to a T, doesn't it?
Anyhoo, lets be frank. Lando doesn't give a rat's @ss what the community thinks. If Lando has to pony up his own money initially you can be damn sure he plans on getting it all back and much more through his "consulting" and other activities with the city, plus his pension and healthcare.
Anyone who doesn't understand that the whole purpose of the survey is to get the answers Lando and the other rent seekers want in order to pull the wool over the eyes of the city council is unable to grasp the obvious.
And he really doesn't need to pull the wool over the council's eyes. This survey will provide political cover for what they really want: more taxes.
Isn't it obvious? NOT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER IS WILLING TO UNCONDITIONALLY OPPOSE A SALES TAX INCREASE AT THIS TIME!
Thanks Dr. Bishop, I really appreciate your support on this issue. Council needs to hear from business people.
Unfortunately, as you say, and according to the State Franchise Tax Board website, we have to pay California tax on purchases made outside the state, and - get a load of this - we are responsible for paying the additional Chico sales tax as well!
Also, if you buy a car in another town, the DMV, Gawd bless 'em!, will collect your local sales tax at the time of registration, depending on the address you give as your residence.
There's just no rest for the wicked.
The good news is, you can go to a nearby town that does not have a local sales tax, and there's nothing your city can do to make you pay their tax on those purchases. Luckily, Chico lies among several towns with lively commercial districts - Red Bluff, Oroville, Yuba City - all good towns to shop in, whether you are buying clothing, household goods, or, say, a car, a boat, new furniture. It's worth a look - these towns often have better prices, as well. And be sure to load your tank full of gas on the way out.
Thanks Joseph.
We need to let Ann Schwab know that if she supports this sales tax her ass is grass in November and we're the lawnmowers.