I am always delighted to find I'm on the same wavelength as Dan Walters, a writer I find to have the utmost common sense!
In his column, Dan Walters clearly outlines what we have been discussing continuously for the past years - the fact that most efforts to increase taxes, rates and fees are necessitated by pension debt. Also mentioned is the 'camouflage' of new taxes, as seen in Madera County. What is labelled as the "need" is, in fact, masking the actual need for the increased revenue - to pay retiree debt. We have seen such attempts - sometimes successful, sometimes not - right here in Marin.
This subterfuge is becoming more widely recognized and wary taxpayers are increasingly more reluctant to keep approving tax measures - much to the chagrin of both our cities in Marin and the county government, but those government entities are forced by necessity and lack of other 'tools' to keep trying.
Those other tools could be made available if the CA Supreme Court upholds the Appeals Court decision in MAPE versus MCERA. Once again I am attaching that decision for those who have not read it. I will keep you informed about CSPP's amicus brief as we move forward. No date for the hearing has yet been set.