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Voters in Pleasanton will help decide the fate of a proposed new half-cent sales tax across Alameda County for the next 20 years (Measure C), with 80% of the funds supporting childcare, preschool and early education programs and 20% supporting pediatric health care.
It’s similar to the Measure A sales tax proposal (for childcare and preschool only) that just barely failed at the polls in June 2018 — earning 66.20% of the vote, just short of the 66.67% required for passage.
The concerns we had with that 2018 ballot measure have only been exasperated by the Measure C campaign.
The need for quality, affordable childcare, early education and pediatric health care is undeniable, but Measure C is not the solution.
Given the plan outlined in the initiative ordinance, it’s difficult to see how the Tri-Valley will benefit from the tax funding. It’s likely priority will be given to communities with larger concentrations of low- and middle-income children in need.
We also question whether a new sales tax is really the most appropriate public funding mechanism to increase support for childcare and pediatric health care.
But what’s most troublesome is the campaign itself.
Go to the “Yes on C: Care for Our Kids” website, and good luck finding the phrase “sales tax” anywhere (unless you manage to find the link to the full 13-page ordinance). Are they trying to hoodwink voters? Be upfront about the basic terms.
Also concerning is that the passage threshold for Measure C appears to be unclear.
The proponents, on their ballot submittal form, claim it would only need a simple majority to pass — not the typical two-thirds supermajority for a special tax.
The Alameda County Registrar of Voters’ Office declined our request for a specific answer, telling us we’d need to contact the proponents.
We found a little more context on the website of First 5 Alameda County, which would be the administrator of the Measure C childcare program, saying the threshold for approving a voter-qualified special tax is now unclear (simple majority vs. two-thirds supermajority) in light of multiple court cases pending appeal in California. “Consequently, the threshold will be determined in future court decisions.”
Just be direct with the voters about the tax measure you want them to adopt. That’s not what we’ve seen here.
Vote No on Measure C.
Go to the “Yes on C: Care for Our Kids” website, and good luck finding the phrase “sales tax” anywhere (unless you manage to find the link to the full 13-page ordinance). Are they trying to hoodwink voters? Be upfront about the basic terms.
Yes, they are.
The “basic terms” are the similar so called “progressive” (socialist) ones. Whatever people need and/or want becomes a “right” and subsequently needs to be provided for “free” by the taxpayers and/or the “rich”. Anyone who objects/refuses either “doesn’t care” or is “greedy”.
The county registrar can’t answer? More likely he/she WOULDN’T answer. Alameda County is beyond redemption. If this tax passes then I’ll be spending my sales tax dollars in Contra Costa County because even if their half cent sales tax measure passes their tax will still be 1% lower and if it doesn’t pass it will be 1.5% lower!
This weekly editorial appears to be saying: We, in Pleasanton in the county of Alameda, don’t need to pay taxes to support children in other parts of our county because our kids come from homes that don’t need this help. … eg. let the poor pay for the poor. Really???
Last year I participated in a focus group in Fremont for this measure. The focus group presented certain wording such as: choose the pleasant phrase. We reviewed the most sympathetic photos, what colors to use in the logos and such. They paid me $170 for this evening. There were 2 groups of 10 that I saw participate. I was shocked at how many of the group immediately said “it’s only 1/2 percent”. I was the conservative old guy in the group that had to remind everyone how much we already pay for sales tax (9.25%) and property tax. The sales tax in Alameda County is already too high. The measure sneaks in the words “benefits the middle class”. No it doesn’t! It’s not clear what household income is considered middle class. This tax will benefit a hospital in Oakland that I will never use. This hospital should use fund raisers and other means of funding not sales tax. Do not raise the sales tax in Alameda County. VOTE NO!
“This weekly editorial appears to be saying: We, in Pleasanton in the county of Alameda, don’t need to pay taxes to support children in other parts of our county because our kids come from homes that don’t need this help. … eg. let the poor pay for the poor. Really???”
And you appearing to be saying: taxpayers in the county (already pay 9%+ in sales taxes) need to be paying even more to underwrite childcare expenses for everyone vs. those choosing to have/raise the children. Really???
Enough of the “need this help” argument. You can use this “fairness” reasoning process to endlessly justify tax increases to subsidize someone/something – for everything. Are car repairs next? Mortgage payments? Shoes?
The CA sales tax rate is 6% plus 1.25% that goes directly to city and counties. That brings the total amount to 7.25% for Alameda County…some cities have it as high as 10.25%. That means that Alameda County gets 2%, at least, that is going where? That is a lot of money. Take care of your own family, or don’t have one. My tax dollars already go for free birth control…take advantage of that.
I calculated the impact on my expenses for the year. For me, it’s around a $200 increase for every half cent added to sales tax. Spread out over the year, that’s about $4 a week. Given that I’d probably just spend that on coffee, I’ll let the kids in Oakland have it.
Assuming the kids actually see the benefit of your generosity.
They also have their “Yes on C” campaign signs illegally plastered on city property around town. Looking like a “No” to me.
anyone that votes to raise their own taxes is foolish
Both Measure C and Measure M are deeply flawed. Measure C is just an extension of sales Tax for very dubious causes. $150 Million of Tax Payer money in Alameda County’s junk spending. Measure School Bond is also deeply flawed. To Pay schools $323 Million Taxpayer have to pay over a Billion Dollars over the life of the Bond. What is missing in PUSD Flyers is accurate information. Tax Payers are being misled. Where is the information on interest rate? It is also misleading that all money will stay in the area. How will PUSD ensure that interest paid by Tax Payers would stay in the valley.
Enough sales taxes already. We already pay enough. Make good use of the money going in, find out where the leaks are, find out where the existing moneys are being misdirected to.
This is absolutely a yes. This measure is led by a community who is directly being affected by the issues at play. Most of the organizations supporting this measure are parent led,grassroots organizations.
Also the Children’s hospital in Oakland Pediatric Trauma Center is only one of two in the state and any children in Pleasanton that need those services will have to go all the way to Oakland so yes it does affect the Pleasanton families.
Regarding the sales tax, it is a half cent. What that looks like is a nickel for every dollar you spend, and a half a penny for every dollar you spend-so it would be absolutely ridiculous to not give that to your community especially if you live in a neighborhood like Pleasanton, where the average household income is $138,269.
This affects all families and should be treated as a historic moment in history as this is a community led effort, period.
YES ON C!
Okay BT, you can pay for me because I won’t pay it. It’s always just a little here and a little there and we have Measure M and Prop. 13 and all of those hidden taxes that nobody talks about. Like I said, I’ll spend tax dollars in Contra Costa County. Only a dumb democrat/communist would vote to tax themselves…so go for it and pay my share.
“Regarding the sales tax, it is a half cent. What that looks like is a nickel for every dollar you spend, and a half a penny for every dollar you spend-so it would be absolutely ridiculous to not give that to your community especially if you live in a neighborhood like Pleasanton, where the average household income is $138,269.”
It’s absolutely ridiculous to make this claim – given the current property/sales/income tax rates in this state. There is always someone claiming people can “afford” to keep giving more. The “half cent” raises the sales tax rate to nearly 10%. How is it that other states/localities manage with sales tax rates of 6% or 7%?
“anyone that votes to raise their own taxes is foolish”
Unfortunately, it is not just “their own”. Too many people supporting this measure feel entitled to/want things to be given to them – but want someone else to pay for it because they can supposedly “afford” to.
“This affects all families and should be treated as a historic moment in history as this is a community led effort, period.”
This measure forces everyone living in the “community” (who have their own living expenses) to subsidize other people’s child raising decisions, period. Historic for the wrong reasons. Don’t have children and then send the taxpayers the bill to take care of/raise them.
First if you think taxes are used for what they say, you are a fool. Most of that money will never reach the KIDS.
It will be siphoned off for salaries and benefits etc. If you really want to help then sidestep government and pay directly to the cause. If you give money to the government for whatever reason you can be sure most of it will be wasted or stolen and never really get to where you want it to go. To the kids.
Are people really that stupid to believe taxes are the most productive and efficient way to get money to KIDS.
I get it your 19 and kinda naive and have a good heart so you fall for this crap. But grown adults with some amount of wisdom, experience or grey matter actually believe that handing more money to the california government is a good use of cash. Sucker born every second…. updated for the 21st century
Michael B it sounds like you are bringing up a reproductive justice issue here with your comment: “Historic for the wrong reasons. Don’t have children and then send the taxpayers the bill to take care of/raise them.”
Being able to have a child is a basic human right the fact that child care is the same cost of some colleges in the Bay area is an issue. You cannot say people shouldn’t have the right to a basic need such as childcare when child care keeps America working.
WOW: I’m sorry but I am not 19 so I’m not sure where you got those numbers from.If any of you did your research on this measure you would see clearly that the organizations supporting it such as Parent Voices,are parent led.They are doing the work to ensure that the Parents in low income neighborhoods are civically engaged and are activating their political voices for decisions that will directly affect their lives.
Also,The people supporting this measure will also be experiencing the tax increase so it will be affecting everyone for the betterment of early child care providers and educators and anyone that has a family or child in Alameda county.
This is a bi partisan issue so its not something just “a dumb democrat” would vote for.
BT – I can’t make heads or tails of who is behind it. Since you’re in the know, would you please ask them to take down the illegally posted campaign signs?
“Being able to have a child is a basic human right the fact that child care is the same cost of some colleges in the Bay area is an issue. You cannot say people shouldn’t have the right to a basic need such as childcare when child care keeps America working.”
Child care costs are not “basic human rights”. I can most certainly say you have an “issue” by ignoring parents not taking responsibility for their actions and then expecting others already paying high tax burdens to cover the costs of their supposed “rights”.
“Also,The people supporting this measure will also be experiencing the tax increase so it will be affecting everyone for the betterment of early child care providers and educators and anyone that has a family or child in Alameda county. This is a bi partisan issue so its not something just “a dumb democrat” would vote for.”
Just “experience the tax increase”. Sounds exactly like something a “dumb democrat” would say. I guess it doesn’t matter the people/families earning money will be worse off because the government continually wants more and more of it – and they can’t use it to take care of themselves?
I will vote NO to measure C, simply because sales tax in Alameda county is already too high.
Wow is all I can say. Having a child is a right. Taking care of the child you have is YOUR responsibility. You dont have a right to have someone else shoulder the burden of having and raising YOUR child. Wow wow wow.
Maybe when said 19 I was not talking chronologically. LoL. Wow.
Funny how you equate the right to have a child as the same as the right to child care and support. I’m sure you equate legal immigrants with illegal immigrants as well. The same short circuit in logic. Sorry you dont have a right to have other people support YOUR decision to have a child. The problem is you and many other 19 year olds think they do.
Again cut out the middle mand and you and all those fathers who share in the tax increase can pony up double to cover our share and do it directly not through government. Your free lesson hath ended.
Your welcome
85viP