Vote NO on Measure C

Tuesday, June 5
Measure C promises everything but the kitchen sink Yet is required to deliver nothing
Measure C promises all the right things to get you to vote yes
A new swimming pool! Libraries! Parks! New fire engines! A new fire station! A new fire training facility!

but guarantees nothing. Its a blank check.

Measure C contains no guarantees that promises made will be delivered. The City Council may choose not to pursue any particular project listed among those examples, may substitute unidentified but similar projects for those listed. (actual wording of the measure).

And that blank check? Its for 30 years!

You won't see this important, essential fact on your ballot; it was left out. Also left out: rebuttal arguments.

At a price we cannot afford!

Measure C intends to put us, and our kids and grandkids, on the hook for bond Indebtedness where the bonds nearly double the cost of each project. YIKES!

Sales taxes are regressive!

Poor and middle-income families pay a far higher percentage of their salary to sales tax than do the wealthy. Alamedans who can least afford it will be carrying a greater percentage of the burden.

Measure C exacerbates city excesses.

Unlike other cities, ours did not make the hard decisions last year to negotiate meaningful concessions with our unions. Our city faces a General Fund deficit of $4.4 million and rising, and faces unpaid pension and medical-benefit costs of $200+ million. Reducing the current, exorbitant city employee annual salaries ($200,000 to $400, 000) and pensions (100k+) is the single most important act that would protect our citys financial health. We need to reduce our citys debt, not increase it.

Wheres the transparency? Where was the public input?

Public comment was not invited. A rebuttal argument in the ballot materials was precluded. Our democratic process was highjacked. Before we take on more debt, let's have a real discussion.

Say No to
Regressive 30-Year Taxes Pricey Bond Debt A Blank Check False Guarantees
Alamedans Against Measure C www.AlamedaNoOnC.com

No on Measure C
Why will Measure C generate debt?

FAQ's

For how long will Measure Cs tax run? Thirty years. Until 2042. How much tax revenue would be raised? An estimated $54 million from taxpayers over 30 years.
Expected future tax revenue (that $54M) from Measure C will be used to purchase bonds today for money today so our city can build now, pay later. And pay we will: bonds nearly double the cost of any project.

Why do we need this tax?

We dont. Instead of spending more money today that our children will have to pay for tomorrow, we should be putting our citys fiscal house in order. Alamedas General Fund deficit this year is $4.4 million and growing. Measure C ignores this problem and commits taxpayers to increased taxes and increased debt.

Whats the rush?

The City of Alameda rushed this tax to a City Council vote in the span of one week. This comes at a time we expect two more tax increases on our ballots in November: an Alameda County Transportation Commission tax and a sales tax increase from Governor Brown. Together, those taxes plus Measure C would increase the sales tax in Alameda to over 10 percent. Are the City Council and management hoping well vote yes on Measure C this June before we become aware of the total burden-sum of sales tax measures this year?

How does Alamedas sales tax rate compare to surrounding cities?

If Measure C were to pass, Alamedas sales tax rate will rise to 9.25%, higher than every surrounding city except Union City. Local businesses will be hurt, as Alameda residents shop elsewhere for taxable goods.

But the City of Alameda Measure C FAQs say

The language in the ballot measure stipulates that City Council is free to prioritize, ignore, or create any project they wish, and allocate Measure C funds accordingly. In Alameda County court filings, the Alameda City Attorneys office confirms: Measure C commits the City of Alameda to no specific projects.

How can we be sure the City wont squander the money?

We cant. Measure Cs audit is toothless: Alameda City Council will review their own decisions.

Why do we need new public safety training facilities?

We dont. The Alameda Police and Fire Departments can train at Alameda County facilities. Moreover, a 2009 outside audit, meant to help optimize AFD services, advised reducingnot expanding--AFD facilities.

Can tax revenue be used on salaries and/or benefits for city employees?
Not directly. Indirectly, the General Fund will be better-positioned to afford the current, exorbitant employee salaries/benefits (because some projects, specifically fire buildings and equipment, will be paid for by Measure C and not out of the GF). Measure C provides for one job position to head up Emergency Services.

What happens when Measure C doesnt pass?

Our city will be forced to do what they should have done in 2011: reduce the main drivers of debt in our city (public sector employee pay/pensions, lawsuits[4+]) and rethink their tax-borrow-and-spend approach.

Vote NO on Measure C to put out city back on track: Lets reduce our citys debt, not increase it. Alamedans Against Measure C www.AlamedaNoOnC.com