OK, we changed our minds...

Now that the Pleasant Hill P.O.A. is complaining that they shouldn't have to share the pain, we have decided to keep this site up and running. There is lots of information here that might serve useful in the ongoing budget discussion. Maybe we should re-name it...

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Our core message:

We should not balance Pleasant Hill’s budget by making it harder for the residents of Pleasant Hill to balance their own.
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THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN!
NO NEW TAXES!
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"Pleasant Hill is a microcosm of the nationwide battle between weary taxpayers and public employee unions defending inflated  pay and benefits to which they believe they’re
entitled.

Unions fund incumbents who, in turn, perpetuate the public employee union gravy train . . . and round and round it goes. Campaigns for PH Council incumbent Harris and union advocate Angeli illustrate this phenomenon in the current race. Do these candidates really think that voters are too dense to understand the quid pro quo implications of a police union campaign endorsement? Gimme a break.

The incessant cry for new taxes “needed” to fund this public employee largesse rings false. Voters are increasingly aware of the political games afoot at taxpayer expense — hence the nationwide anti-incumbent fervor." -Wendy Lack

Read more from Wendy on our blog page!

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Visit us on Facebook! Look for our Facebook page at: 
"Pleasant Hill no on Measure T" 
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Compensation
We wanted to compare the pay of City Managers in California to see where Pleasant Hill lines up. Here is what we found (courtesy of the League of California Cities "City Manager Compensation Survey"):
City                    Compensation      Population
Pleasant Hill……....$249,119………...33,576
For cities with similar population:

Atascadero………...$186,460………..28,560

Calixico…………....$  56,315……..…40,075
Campbell………..…$194,800………..40,000
Culver City………..$157,000………..40,722
La Puente……….....$160,000………..40,355
Hollister…………...$136,758………..38,000
La Verne………..…$192,781………..33,981
Lompoc…………....$151,827………..43,079
Manhattan Beach...$153,091………..36,254
Novato………….....$117,162………..54,000
San Pablo………....$171,613………..31,065

For City Managers with similar compensation:
City                     Compensation   Population
Antioch…………$221,000…….…..102,000
Bakersfield……..$245,852………..338,952
Berkeley………..$223,324………..107,268
Glendale………..$251,361………..207,303
Oakland………...$230,024…….….410,000
Sacramento…….$205,110………..453,781
San Bernadino…$177,450………..207,000
Santa Ana………$240,000……….357,754
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News Flash! This is being tried in Southern California too:

The City of Chula Vista wants to raise the Utility tax for their residents. From an article written August 27:
...“A common argument in support of the measure from City Hall is that the proposed modernization of the UUT is necessary for the language to be technology neutral, allowing the “City to treat all consumers equally.” This statement is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. What this simply means is that City Hall would like to legally force the tax onto all carriers and therefore, consumers under the proposed expanded scope. This also means there is no sunset clause. It is a permanent tax that will likely serve as a slippery slope to adaptively tax just about every form telecommunications as technology progresses—giving new meaning to the wireless phone commercial pitch: “We’ve got you covered.” And they will, in taxes.”
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This is not a partisan issue, it is a fiscal issue. People of all political points-of-view are concerned about their financial situation, and don't appreciate being asked to pay more, when they themselves have to make do with less.  

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Information from the "California Local Government Finance Almanac" website:
Despite claims that many other East Bay cities also have a Utility use tax, it appears that the only East Bay cities that do are:
Pleasant Hill
Richmond
El Cerrito
Pinole
Hercules
San Pablo
Click here to find the report:
http://www.californiacityfinance.com/#UUT
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A Few Things to Think About:
·         Pleasant Hill is running a budget deficit, and yet…

·    The City Manager makes more than the Governor!  ($249K vs $212K)

·    The City Attorney makes more than Californias Attorney General!  ($205K vs $184K)

·    City employees pay nothing into their retirement plans, and pay only $55 per month toward   their health care plans. 

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Click on the "How to Donate" tab at the top to send donations.
We are in the process of ordering flyers and signs. This is a very "grass-roots" effort and any amount you can give will help!_______________________________________________________________
"What the City fails to say is that every dollar taken to pay this new tax is a dollar that is taken away from the economy, dollars that are vital to our recovery." - Anon.

LINKS


Halfway to Concord

Contra Costa Taxpayers Association 

Claycord

City of Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth



"People try to live within their means so they can afford to pay taxes to a government that can't live within its income" - Robert Half


"The city needs to get its hands out of our pockets so it can use them to tighten its belt!"


"We will pay this tax twice, once at home and again when we shop"

"...no taxes can be devised, which are not...inconvenient and unpleasant..."
- George Washington


Even the President agrees:
“The last thing we want to do is raise taxes in the middle of a recession.”
-President Barack Obama, August 5, 2009 on NBC



"City officials say 'the sky will fall' if the new tax doesn't pass. I'm here to tell you the sky is already falling on small businesses like mine." - Pleasant Hill shop owner


Let us know what you think!

Interested in helping? Have ideas to contribute? Words of encouragement?
Please email us at [email protected]. Or use the Contact page.