Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Mar 27, 2008 at 9:04 am

I read about this awhile ago at Web Link

This is also significant: Web Link

Posted by Jerry, a resident of the Oak Hill neighborhood, on Mar 27, 2008 at 9:49 pm

Read somewhere, I think last year, that West Nile was found at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Wonder of the horses stabled there attract mosquitos. Could be that's why the nags I wagered on during '07 fair racing schedule have yet to cross the finish line.......I'm confident it has nothing to do with my ability to pick a winner.

Posted by Jim Knowles, a resident of the Valley Trails neighborhood, on Mar 31, 2008 at 6:20 pm

My source of information is the "Official Notice and Ballot Information Guide".

In 1982, Measure K approved a special TAX for $1.75/year/single residence and was passed by 67.7%.

The proposed Mosquito and Disease Control ASSESSMENT for $5.00/2008-2009 year/single residence appears to be a way to avoid the Prop 13 mandate of 2/3 majority as the assessment requires only a weighted majority approval.

* So it appears that by making it an ASSESSMENT vs a TAX we avoid the Prop 13 mandate.

* There is no suggestion that the tax will be replaced by the assessement so the total will be $6.75/year/single residence.

* The assessment "may be continued in future years" and can be adjusted for inflation by up to 3%/year.

I've no reason to suspect that the district's technical employees are not doing a fine job; I do wonder about the lack of clarity in the Official Notice and Ballot Information Guide.

I await feedback before I place my ballot in the mail.

PS Stacy thanks for your web links.

Mathew Artz (InsideBayArea.com) seems to get mixed up in his characterization of assessment and taxes and while it may be the district's intent to drop the $1.75 tax if the assessment is approved, it does not so state in the Ballot Information Guide.

Posted by Milt, a resident of the Valley Trails neighborhood, on Apr 2, 2008 at 5:05 am

Advice: AVOID ALL ASSESSMENTS!

You will find they are very difficult to reverse or eliminate and yes, it IS a way the "Public Servants" uphold the will of the people when we passed the hard-fought Prop 13 issue.

Don't you think - as far as "assessments" go - that this would be a good time to ASSESS the performance of our "Public Servants" to determine WHO, exactly they are serving?

Posted by Milt, a resident of the Valley Trails neighborhood, on Apr 2, 2008 at 5:09 am

What I mean here is this is a way the "Public Servants" do NOT uphold the will of the people when we passed Prop 13.

The intent of Prop 13 was to LIMIT their spending - not re-name it!