We had a lively discussion down at the library yesterday about how we are going to fight the phone tax increase in November.
The key here is to inform the public. $taff has already done their best to make this measure confusing and deceptive, actually writing into the measure that it will lower taxes. They mean, they are lowering the rate half a cent, but of course, this half-cent will be an ice cube in hell when they apply the tax to all the new stuff this measure allows – starting with cell phones, texting, paging, and adding whatever new technology comes along. All the voter needs to know is, this measure will raise his/her taxes, noticeably.
Even people on welfare will pay this tax, even though they qualify for the rate-assistance plans offered by the phone companies – utility tax is based on the total bill, before the adjustment for the rate assistance. And, this tax includes those prepaid phone cards.
The hardest hit will be commercial customers. A friend of mine who owns a little manufacturing business in town tells me the city of Chico thinks all business owners are “rich sugar daddies”.
My friend always tells me, that while I am in these meetings Downtown, he is in Oroville or Redding or Modesto or some other town, dealing with his business. He says these towns have better, more workable $taff. He is among the business owners who have used the word “hostile” to describe Dave Burkland, and the city business climate in general.
We have to get the word out to people like my friend that NOW IS THE TIME to get involved. I like that band, Rage Against the Machine – they say, “it has to start somewhere, it has to start sometime. What better place than here, what better time than NOW!”
We’re fighting the city, which will use public money to fund this tax increase initiative. For example, they have already used $taff time to research and write the measure, and now council members and $taff will create the “for” argument to be placed on the ballot. Our city attorney makes over $190,000 a year in salary alone – Mark Sorensen figured the cost of an hour of her time, but I forget the figure. More than most people make in a day, is all I remember.
The city will turn over their arguments in favor in August – at that point we can take this dog and pony show on the road. Until then, let’s keep working. Thanks all!
Chico Taxpayers Association 
You can count on Schwabster, Hokum, the Grundler, Walker lying through their teeth selling this hard as a tax cut and of course the city bureaucrats will, too.
You can bet they WON’T write into the measure that the tax MUST be revenue neutral and if it is not the tax rate WILL be lowered OR a REFUND will be issued.
The public should be aware of that and if they are they may see the TRUTH and realize it IS a tax INCREASE.
I think you’re right Joseph, we just need to get the info out there. What the proposal will say on the ballot, is that it is lowering the tax.
Lori makes $95 an hour.
Annual salary/2000 = hourly
thank you!
Any luck Downtown?
But what is the TOTAL cost?
To the salary you need to add in ALL benefits including pension costs, health insurance and paid time off plus any payrol taxes paid by the employer.