Responding to Lisa Toth's Aug. 4 "Time to Bond" article on the West Valley­Mission Community College district's upcoming $235 million bond measure, I respond it's the wrong tax at the wrong time!

The article does not make clear this is another "creatively labeled" parcel tax homeowners only are asked to repay (if an assessment is added to your property-tax bill, what difference does its label make?). Nor does it point out that property taxes already fund the district. Nor does it point out last March, Prop. 55 authorized $12.3 billion for community colleges like the district to upgrade/build new facilities.

Nor does the article disclose that over 50 percent of district enrollment consists of nonresidents.

Homeowners are on a property-taxing merry-go-round (counties, schools, libraries, fire protection, hospitals, parks, open space, etc.). How many "different" homeowner-only taxes are necessary; when is enough, enough; why are homeowners being taxed for higher education which benefits nonresidents; and, when do nonresident students pay their fair share?

In addition to Saratoga's utility tax and Campbell Union High School's parcel tax, countywide there will be 11 other such "homeowners only taxed" measures on November's ballot—many within the district's territory.

Although just like Saratoga, the district could tax all residents, it refuses because it knows tenants won't vote to tax themselves. Since tenants make up 42 percent of the district's adult population and its bond measure requires only 55 percent voter approval, why the artifice of an election? Although this wasn't Prop. 13's intent, according to the district, the ends justify the means.

Although only homeowners will repay the district's bonds if approved, the district's voting scheme excludes nonresidents. If you are a nonresident landowner, how would you feel being taxed yet disenfranchised?

The district's bond measure is regressive because it impacts those on fixed incomes, like seniors—the most who can afford it the least. Further, it's unfair because it does not tax uniformly. Because bond repayment will be based upon a percentage of assessed valuation, those with higher-valued parcels will pay more.

The district's bond measure is a waste of money. With underwriting, servicing and interest costs, its bonds will actually cost homeowners closer to $700 million, whereas a comparable parcel/residency tax would cost $235 million. The district would rather call an election requiring 55 percent versus 67 percent voter approval, even if it unnecessarily costs homeowners $470 million extra.

The article doesn't answer why the district hasn't planned for infrastructure repairs with a sustained capital improvement program over its last 40 years. Nor does it explain why ongoing maintenance does not appear to be a budgetary line item, yet the chancellor's annual salary with benefits of $200,000 does?

The issue isn't education's importance; nor the district's increased enrollment or needs; nor the deal with Saratoga which prevents stadium construction; nor Sacramento's budget cuts; nor keeping up with the district's neighbors. It's telling the truth; being fair, responsible and competent, and defining who determines who pays what.

Voters need to send the district the message that one, the ends don't justify the means; secondly, it should tax judiciously or not at all; and, three, it should tax everyone, not just homeowners, or no one.

Aaron Katz

Bonnet Way

Money mismanagement led
to need for proposed tax

The present Saratoga City Council, under the leadership of Her Honor, Mayor Ann Waltonsmith, has made bad decisions and wants Saratoga residents and business owners to pay for its mistakes with the proposed 4 percent utility tax on this year's November ballot.

Some examples of Saratoga City Council decisions under Mayor Ann Waltonsmith:

1. Spent $5 million of the city reserves on an unnecessary property, the North Campus. The city spends $80,000 to $150,000 just to keep the property maintained.

2. Unable to make the necessary hard decisions to reign in the excessive growth of the Saratoga city staff, by more than 10 percent per year! Saratoga is presently spending approximately $1 million more than the amount we spent in 2000 just to keep up. Our population in Saratoga over the same period has been flat or declining slightly.

3. The Saratoga City Council approved this year's budget that projects spending over $300,000 beyond this year's expected revenues. As such, the city council is approving for the first time, deficit spending.

4. Last year, to meet budget, the city cut one police officer in favor of retaining and maintaining city staff.

As former member of the Saratoga Finance Commission, I am very familiar with city finances. The Saratoga City Council has been unwilling to face the tough and sometimes unpopular tasks of reigning in Saratoga city spending and instead has requested this 4 percent utility tax to supplement the revenues lost to the state of California. It has used scare tactics implying that without the utility tax we would be stuck with as unmaintained and below-standard city streets and roads.

The current Mayor Ann Waltonsmith is probably the most culpable for the present Saratoga city financial situation. Instead of re-running for her next term for city council, Mayor Ann Waltonsmith should do the honorable thing and simply resign.

Sam Ochi

Saratoga

Red light runners could help solve financial woes

A warning to my neighbors who enter Saratoga Avenue from Scotland Drive. Once again, after I got the green light, if I had not paused before entering the intersection to check the traffic on my left heading towards town, I would have been hit by a driver who drove straight through her red light.

We have had one accident that I know of that overturned a car at this spot, but more commonly it is near misses, and lots of them. It is my guess that the driver is looking ahead to the signal at Fruitvale, hoping to make that one and does not see the red light at Scotland so goes through it at full speed. Of course, we also have the regular red-light runner.

If the police gave tickets at this intersection I think we could solve Saratoga's financial difficulties.

Nancy Anderson

Lomond Court