We’re spending more and getting less — Measure L not the solution

What is Measure L? It is a half-cent sales tax increase.

That’s it — nothing more and nothing less.

The fact is that the money from

Measure L will be used “for unrestricted general revenue purposes.” (Section 3.30.030 E of the ordinance)

What this means is that all of the money from Measure L will be spent just like every other dollar in the general fund — however the city council wants to spend it.

In other words, more money for government with no guarantee on how it will be spent.

Like all tax increases, the proponents of Measure L threaten “devastating” cuts, crime, and other bad things if the tax does not pass. The proponents of Measure L would like you to believe that the funds from Measure L will do a lot of things. They cannot make those guarantees. Do not be fooled.

The facts are that the money from Measure L:

• Will not provide homelessness solutions;

• Will not improve 911 response times;

• Will not fix potholes or maintain streets;

• Will not repair or upgrade any of our parks; nor,

• Will it do anything specific.

So, what will Measure L be used for?

Councilwoman JoAnne Mounce was honest when she said, “The cause of this point blank is CalPERS and our pension fund, and I have spent the last two years of my life fighting with CalPERS.” (Lodi City Council meeting, June 20, 2018)

The proponents of Measure L are trying to sell this as a small price to pay. A small price to pay for what? To support the pension fund?

The facts are that this tax is regressive and that it will hurt those on low and fixed incomes.

So, who is backing Measure L? The very wealthy. Measure L is being supported by wealthy real estate investors and an out of town consulting firm.

To date, the proponents have raised over $60,000 for their campaign. At least $40,500 has come from real estate investors including $25,000 from a Los Angeles political action committee (PAC) that supports Realtors. $25,000 from Los Angeles for a Lodi measure! Why?

Who is running the Measure L campaign? A big money consulting firm from Oakland — Clifford Moss. Through Sept. 22, the proponents owed Clifford Moss $15,000 for undisclosed services.

This is the same firm that your city council hired for $148,500 to assist them with Measure L. That’s right! $148,500 of your tax dollars went to Oakland when they could have been spent right here in Lodi. So, why do I oppose Measure L? I oppose Measure L because it does nothing to solve Lodi’s fiscal problems including the problems with the unsustainable pension fund. All Measure L does is kick the can down the street so that we can do this again in a few years. We are constantly spending more and getting less.

If you think this is just a talking point, take a look at this

In Lodi’s 2008 budget, total general fund spending was $46.52 million. Of that, $24.73 million, about 53 percent, was spent on police and fire with 120 people in police and 64 in fire.

Well today things are much different.

Lodi’s most recent general fund budget is $51.3 million. Of that, police and fire account for over 64 percent of it or $32.94 million with 103 in police and 53 in fire.

So, while the amount is up and the percentage is up, the total number of people serving you in both departments has gone down.

That’s right, we are spending 33 percent more for police and fire than we were but we are getting less protection! Why? The pension payments are eating the money up.

We cannot let this continue!

If you are satisfied with how our government spends your money — vote yes and you will get exactly what you have been getting, less and less for more and more of your money.

However, if you want fundamental changes to how your city council spends your money, I urge you to vote NO on Measure L.