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CO$T
CO$T's 1st Taxpayer Town Hall Takeaways and How You Can Help
CO$T’s first Taxpayer Town Hall, featuring Joe Nation, was a great success. Professor Nation's analysis of California's unfunded pension liabilities provides important context for the unfolding tax increases and service cuts facing us both locally and state-wide.
The thought-provoking video and slides from Joe Nation's presentation are on the CO$T website at www.costmarin.org.
Key take-away points:
- The state faces an alarming $800 B unfunded pension liability, assuming a 5% investment return. At a more realistic 2.7% return, California's unfunded pension liability is $1.3 trillion, over $100,000 per household.
- Without pension reform, new and increased taxes and fees will be levied to maintain basic services at current levels. This just kicks the can down the road, as unfunded pension liabilities continue to grow.
- The path to reform is currently blocked by labor unions and state statutes.
- Organized citizen engagement is essential to dismantling the roadblocks and to restoring a sustainable, affordable balance between taxes and services.
- JOIN US in educating and advocating for sensible taxes.
- Tell others about CO$T and send the link to our website. Encourage them to sign up for our alerts.
- Get involved. Volunteer to help CO$T. We are keen for help with social media postings, web communications, research, financial analysis, op/ed contributions, geographical representation, legal, administrative and organizational activities.
- Send donations. Make checks payable to CO$T and mail to COSTMarin, POB 253, Kentfield, CA 94914.
- Email Susan Kirsch -- susankirsch@hotmail.com -- with suggestions or questions about getting involved.
Thanks again to Joe Nation, attendees, donors, BrightPath Video (filming contribution) and the Spinnaker (venue contribution) for making CO$T's inaugural Taxpayer Town Hall a success.