I like to read other blogs with other people’s observations. I was reading a long-time favorite when I suddenly realized – it’s very depressing, writing about the inevitable growing pains of a small, poorly managed city with huge problems. I’ve been sounding the alarm about overgrowth, poor planning, poor budgeting, and general malfeasance, for years. You start to feel like nobody cares, and nobody’s deserving of your concern.
I get contacted by people with real concerns, people who have been doing their homework and trying to participate in their local decision making, only to be pushed away with a palm to the forehead. Lately our local leaders here in Butte County are stooping to new lows to run taxes under the radar.
Recently I received this comment from Steve Jackson, regarding the Wyandotte Groundwater Sustainability Agency election.
Yesterday afternoon (7/27/23) the Wyandotte GSA held their public protest hearing at the Oroville City Council Chambers. The entire meeting can be viewed on YouTube at “07.27.23 Wyandotte Creek GSA”. Some key takeaways from this protest hearing are:
(1) of the 5000+ residents, many did not receive their protest notifications via US Mail; (2) the vote was structured such that if you do nothing, it’s considered a “yes” vote in favor of the fee; (3) for ALL GSA’s throughout the state, the constitutionality of this fee (tax) has yet to be tested, on its face it appears unconstitutional. (4) a manager will be hired (as a county employee) at full salary to manage this GSA. (5) Gavin Newsom misspent $2B in COVID money (his staff paid $2B in unemployment benefits to prison inmates, money that has yet to be recouped) yet California cannot pay for groundwater management at the state level…?
For everyone that lived in the (Cal Fire) State Responsibility Area (SRA), you may recall being subject to an unconstitutional “fee” (tax) several years ago. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) took Cal Fire to court over this tax and was eventually successful in overturning it (though the residents that paid the $115 fee annually for several years under protest never received a refund of their tax dollars).
The key takeaway of the GSA “fee” (tax) being imposed on citizens throughout California is this…it’s unconstitutional AND needs to be given it’s day in Court.
Thanks Steve, I will contact Howard Jarvis Association to see if they are aware of the recent well tax and if they have any concerns about it’s legality. This tax was rolled out like the sewer tax that came in the mail right after Thanksgiving weekend – poorly marked, and without a ballot, that notice looked like junk mail. I know, people need to read their mail, but these assessments were done in this matter at the suggestion of a consultant paid with taxpayer money, with the intention of undermining public participation and slipping an illegal tax past the voters.
I been driving by the illegal encampment at Depot Park lately partly because we helped a friend move out of that neighborhood and then again because there’s a farm stand out the west side of town that has really good eggs and stuff. So I’ve seen that rambling mess, and I’m getting pretty disgusted with Chico City Council and their Whack-a-mole management plan.
Everybody is calling it that – “whack-a-mole” – after the arcade game, you know the one. The mole pops up, you try to hit it, it disappears and pops out another hole. That’s the scene in Chico, only the transients aren’t really the ones being whacked. Residents report being afraid to use parks, afraid to go out after dark, and, I’m guessing, too disgusted to go Downtown to complain about it.
Our city staff and council would like us to believe they are helpless because of the lawsuit – you know what, I’d like to see the judge enforce that lawsuit. What would that mean, does anybody know? Cause I’m going to guess it would have something to do with the loss of the transfer money the county is getting to bring these people in here in the first place.
Here’s an example of a transfer – right now Placer County residents are up in arms about the transfer of a “sexually violent predator” to their county, and here’s what really sounds WHACK – “as a transient“.
According to ABC 10, “William Stephenson will be placed into an RV provided by Liberty Healthcare, who said in the release that ‘money is no object.’” Did you read that – “money is no object…” That’s how they always talk about taxpayer money. That’s right, Liberty Healthcare is fully taxpayer funded. Here’s a story from San Diego about a “client” who was placed under Liberty’s supervision – unfortunately they didn’t supervise him. I can’t post the link for some reason but here are some excerpts.
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – A pedophile convicted of molesting four boys was arrested last week on another felony charge. But that sex offender is not in custody. Instead, Allen Fields is living in Campo being supervised by a program ran by Liberty Healthcare.
Liberty Healthcare is taxpayer funded and, according to the District Attorney, failed to keep the terms of Fields’ release.
The penal code states that sexually violent predators must register every 90 days with law enforcement, something Allen Fields agreed to under the terms of his release in 2014. He has successfully registered every 90 days for 6 years, until now.
Court records show fields was arrested and booked into jail for a felony charge. Three days later, the charges were not filed, and he was released under the supervision of Liberty Healthcare, a for-profit agency that monitors sex offenders.
According to the District Attorney, the failure to make his appointment to register as a sex offender was Liberty Healthcare’s error.
That is the story of a transfer gone bad, and we paid for it. A “for profit” company that is supposed to supervise dangerous sex offenders, but they just don’t? But he gets released into their custody again? This is how the system works, and we’re paying for it.
Every month, our county board of supervisors accepts hundreds of thousands of dollars – amounting to millions annually – in fees for the transfer of mental patients and criminals into Butte County. The supes use the money as they please, distributing it among various county and private providers. Some are sent to our jail from other over-crowded jails, but those are released due to overcrowding at our jail. Some are housed at shelters, others are simply released and directed toward a mish-mash of ineffective “services”, like Liberty Healthcare.
Don’t believe me? Well, fuck you, read the agendas and the budget, it’s all there. And then walk out into the street and look around yourself, open your eyes – this is happening because our elected leaders care more about money to pay ridiculous salaries and benefits than securing our community’s safety. Screw quality of life – we’re living like Whack-a-moles.
the “residents” were unable to stop the board from assessing the tax. I still have some problems with this “district” – which has never been approved by the voters. Read on, and please send your thoughts.
Wednesday night, Vina Groundwater Sustainability Agency held their board meeting and public hearing regarding a proposed per acre fee for properties located in their “district”. But, as of now, I can’t find any news of how the balloting went.
I have been exploring their website – here’s the board:
I had no idea until now that my city of Chico council rep is a member of the Vina agency board. This whole affair has been kept pretty closed.
I had a confusing response from the county staffer assigned to this agency –
Thank you so much for getting the word out! I am not familiar with Debbie Presson with the City of Chico, my contact there is usually Linda Herman, the Administrative Manager for the City. Linda is Chico’s Member Agency Management team member, and she reports information to Chico Councilmember Kami Denlay. Kami is Chico’s Board member for the Vina GSA.
The first thing I’m hearing is that there’s a “Chico Member Agency Management Team”, including Linda Herman, and who else? Furthermore, Denlay is no longer a city council member and is not listed as a member of the VGSA board. And they accuse me of spreading misinformation!
How does Evan Tuchinsky rate as a “stakeholder” – aren’t we all “stakeholders“? How was this whole board set up? By the county of Butte, who is just doing an end run around a ballot measure.
I asked the county gal about the results of the balloting – am I the last one to know? Anybody got any clues? I’ll get back with any response from the county staffer, but that probably won’t be until Monday because today is Flex Friday.
Well, the well tax issue is a real pisser – that last post went way too viral. I’m sorry I told people to contact city clerk Debbie Presson, but my attempts to contact person or persons behind the Vina Groundwater Sustainability Association were unsuccessful. I figured that since Presson is in charge of city hall ( she approves the bookings), she might know what’s going on. But, she is apparently playing dumb-o. I got this message from Suzanne –
“I contacted D. Presson about this well tax saying we had not rec’d a notice or ballot; her reply is “I am unaware of the proposed well tax.” Can you post a copy of the notice you received?”
Oh there it was, that was my mistake – I called it a ‘tax’ and Suzanne repeated my question to Presson verbatim I assume and Presson won’t acknowledge that it’s a ‘tax’. Some people wouldn’t say ‘shit’ if they had a mouthful. See, it’s a ‘fee’. My bad!
But I’ll tell you what’s weird – I’d emailed and called VGSA when I got the notice – two days before the “information hearing”. I’d sent questions. I got no response until I posted that blog.
Good Morning Juanita,
Thank you for reaching out to the Vina Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). Unfortunately the GSA does not have staff to respond to all of the inquiries they are receiving, I work for Butte County Department of Water and Resource Conservation and we’re trying to help the GSA respond to emails and phone calls along with our regular jobs.
All property owners within the Vina subbasin were mailed the Prop 218 information. It is proposed that a maximum fee be assessed of $3.09 per acre (prorated), regardless of the land use or water source, to fund the GSA and meet the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Information can be found on the Vina GSA website (www.vinagsa.org), but if you have additional questions please feel free to call me at my office, 530-552-3595.
Thank you,
Autum Thomas, Administrative Analyst, III, Butte County Department of Water & Resource Conservation
There it is, this is coming from Butte County. The county can’t raise this fee without either a petition from the voters, or a group of landlowers has to form the district. The county wants the fee, but they’d have to put it on the ballot. So they’ve asked farmers to form these districts, both the Vina and Tuscan (Durham). That way, they get around the ballot, they can do these sneaky mailed ballots. If you don’t return it, it’s a YES vote. And get a load of this – bigger parcels get a bigger vote! And that includes the landowners who formed the district.
I’ve heard from three other households I know of who say they didn’t receive a ballot, and they admit they may have thrown it away. So I have to pay a tax because my neighbors are ill-informed? Wow, just like the sewer tax the city foisted on us at Christmas.
If you have not received your ballot, please contact Autum Thomas at 530-552-3595.
Get your wagons in a circle – two new taxes rearing their ugly heads on the local horizon.
Dude sent me this message from Steve Forbes of Forbes Magazine.
Yes, this guy is scary.
It’s about the new pricing system Gavin Newsom proposes for our energy bills. He wants to charge us based on how much money we make. That’s Communism Folks. Welcome to the Drugpublic of Taxfornia.
Here we have a state that’s made drug abuse, vagrancy, and many crimes legal while attempting to make wealth illegal. My best advice is to join Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which is right now fighting legislation that makes it easier to pass taxes.
Meanwhile, in Chico, we are faced with a well tax even though we don’t own wells. A group of people is mounting an effort to take charge of our groundwater, and they’re passing the hat to pay all their salaries. It’s a simple as that, and even more simply, we can vote NO. I sent my protest ballot already, I hope you did too. If you live in the city of Chico and don’t know what I’m talking about, contact Debbie Presson at debbie.presson@chicoca.gov and tell her you don’t have a ballot. Or you can attend the hearing at City Hall on July 26, at which you can turn in your vote. Shake your fist for me.
They’re pulling this one out of their ass just like the sewer tax the city put on us at Christmas. At least this notice included a ballot, but it’s still a TAKING.
Got any questions bring them here and we’ll try to find the answers.
“Depot Park is an ideal place for an afternoon picnic and is most commonly utilized for weddings.”
Well, that’s just not true. It’s not even funny. I’ve driven by the site recently – it is a mess of tents and garbage. If you watch the news, you know it’s a giant crime problem for the neighborhood. Ch 7 reports people are moving out of apartments there due to a spike in crime.
One neighbor described the scene – “‘Stealing things from cars, going into pools. I’ve seen a lot of domestic violence around the streets. I’ve had to call the cops on them like beating each other up, it’s been kind of scary to watch,’ she said. Now she’s thinking of ending her lease agreement early.”
“Chico Wiki” tells it like it is – ” Depot Park is presently used as a campground for unhoused individuals.” Followed by a list of crimes including stabbings and shootings that have happened there over the last year.
Depot Park is part of what we affectionately refer to as “the student ghetto.” It’s a sad fact that the area surrounding the campus is one of the worst parts of town. And that includes the Nord Ave Safeway, where 10 people were reportedly “bear maced” last night by a person who was shoplifting. Apparently someone, either an employee or other customers, confronted the man, and he responded by spraying them with mace. “Suspect was a transient subject with facial hair wearing a black shirt and hat. He left on a bike…” According to a witness an employee named “Ruby” was taken to Enloe hospital after inhaling fumes. Depot Park is an easy one mile bike ride directly down Nord Ave from that Safeway store.
My husband and I often watch the Sacramento news – we stuck our antenna in a black walnut tree, we get KCRA and My 58. This story has been running for over a year now – about a plan to bring a passenger train to Chico, for travel to and from Sacramento. Shuttles will be available in Downtown Sacramento for both Sacramento International Airport and various shopping areas.
Businesses from Yuba City to Sacramento are seeing an opportunity to steal customers from failing Chico retail sectors, like Downtown and our struggling malls. Here’s what proponents are hoping for.
“Businesses in the areas where the train line would go through told KCRA 3 they hope they see an economic benefit from the project. At Justin’s Kitchen in Yuba City, bartender Travis Blagg said the restaurant and bar already has a loyal customer base, but still wants to expand its reach. Blagg said he hopes the proposed commuter train line will bring more people through Yuba City, and therefore a potential boost in business.
“Herminia Bumagat, the owner of Fil-Am Bakery, a Filipino baked goods and snack shop in the Natomas area, said North Valley Rail might make it easier for out-of-towners to come to Sacramento and take a bigger bite out of what her eatery has to offer.”
That story was from Sacramento, here’s a local story.
The “North Valley Rail” would stop in Marysville, Yuba City, Plumas Lake, Gridley and Chico, according to Executive Director for the Butte County Association of Government (BCAG) Jon Clark. But it sounds like people are more interested in getting OUT of Chico.
“I think public transportation should be more accessible for people,” said Whitney Gow who lives in Chico. “I think having a train from here to there would make it a lot easier for people to travel home.”
“I think my biggest struggle is getting to the Sacramento Airport. I have been ubering which has not been the safest lately,” said Chico State student Olivia Velasco. “I definitely think a train would be very beneficial.”
“It would provide both commuter service that would get people to Sacramento and other areas south of us for work purpose,” said Clark. “It is also good for recreation.” The train would cater to people that have moved here but kept jobs elsewhere. And yes, people would be able take this train from Chico to sporting events, concerts, and resorts in the capitol city. Or catch a bus/train/plane to the Bay Area for a Giants game, even SF International.
(“KTXL) — The northern Sacramento Valley will soon be better connected to the Bay Area and the northern San Joaquin Valley with the addition of a new rail line, according to the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG).What will be known as the North Valley Rail will run from Natomas to Chico and makes stops in Plumas Lake, Marysville-Yuba City and Gridley.”
This rail line will take in the entire service area around Chico, with buses connecting Oroville to the station in Gridley. They even promise a connection with the Coast Starlight, running from Seattle to Los Angeles.
I have to wonder – will Chico be a destination? Or an exit? How will this affect Chico retail and the hospitality industry? How can we take advantage of this rail line to boost retail and tourism in Chico?
Meanwhile, Mayor Andrew Coolidge called a press conference the other day about the city’s efforts to get millions in donations to guarantee air service to Chico Airport. For 700 people who claim to “fly out of other airports each day”? Yes, the article says “out”.
Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth writing letters to the Enterprise Record but you know, it’s really the only public forum we have. Here’s how Editor Wolcott responded to the letter I sent the other day about county spending and the fire stations:
Hi Juanita, your last letter begins with this paragraph:
“In 2021, Butte County supervisors approved the use of more than $252 million in PG&E settlement money, received on behalf of Camp Fire survivors, for the creation of over a dozen new staff positions, with salaries over $100,000/year. At the time the county was already carrying more than $44 million in pension liability because of overgenerous salaries and unrealistic employee contributions.
The supes also approved the use of settlement money toward paying down their pension deficit.”
I can find no record of the supervisors using the funds to create new staff positions.
I had to inform him – I got the information from this 2021 article posted in the ER.
Wolcott then tried to tell me, “In this story [link below], we reported “The money was put into a fund to go toward maintenance, rebuilding and recovery after the fire. Flash forward to September 2022 and the Butte County Probation Department took out a loan from the fund for its new office that it is paying back. The interest generated from this would go toward what Chief Administrative Officer Andy Pickett suggested as a cost center.“
What money is he talking about? Because the 2021 story I posted details the spending of $252 million in “PG&E settlement money…”, listing new positions to be created with the money. Furthermore, he’s just proving my point – a new department, the “cost center”, with new positions, new salaries, new pensions, and more pension deficit.
That’s another post, we’ll get back to “cost centers”. For now, I responded to Wolcott.
“below is the link to the story I referenced, ER dated 4/14/21. They created new positions with PG&E settlement money, BUT! I see a mistake in my letter, I said “for the creation of…” I think that should be “including the creation of…” How’s that? They did other stuff with the money, including making a big payment toward the pension deficit, but that was too many words to get into the letter. “
I haven’t received a response, but I haven’t seen the letter in the paper yet. Of course, you can tell Wolcott has been on another one of his extended vacations – no letters one day, three letters the next, and now, a regular avalanche of letters. Including a really nasty letter from regular writer Michael Bertsch, accusing everybody of global warming. But no letter about the misspending of PG&E settlement money, the county pension deficit, or the fact that the supervisors are perpetuating it.
It’s hard to get the truth out when your local newspaper is in on the racket. What’s up Mike?
Every year at budget time the Butte County board of stupes threatens to cut library funding. That is a discussion that needs to be had. But, even after two major catastrophic fires that have affected local communities, Butte County supervisors has the nerve to put fire stations on the chopping block.
What the hell do they think we have counties for? Why do we pay property taxes if not to protect our property? I doubt I’m the only one here who believes fire protection is a service we should be able to expect from the county. I’d call that a “no-brainer”, wouldn’t you?
The county collected millions in PG&E settlement money after the fire – how much did you get? The only money we got was from our insurance company. We rebuilt our Paradise rental, adding more than $100,000 to the taxable value because of upgrades forced by the town and county. But as of today, and I’ve checked, the street in front of our rebuild is still crumbling, there are still dead trees standing in the old neighborhood, and the grocery store and the hospital have skipped town.
What nerve Bill Connelly, Todd Kimmelshue, Tami Ritter, Peter Durfee and especially Doug Teeter have, to tell people who watched their entire town burn to the ground that they will close fire stations if they don’t get more money. Especially after all that settlement money, and who knows how much COVID relief funding, have been twittered down the shitter.
So you know me, I wrote a letter about it!
In 2021, Butte County supervisors approved the use of more than $252 million in PG&E settlement money, received on behalf of Camp Fire survivors, for the creation of over a dozen new staff positions, with salaries over $100,000/year. At the time the county was already carrying more than $44 million in pension liability because of overgenerous salaries and unrealistic employee contributions.
The supes also approved the use of settlement money toward paying down their pension deficit.
Since then they have done nothing to rein in the deficit, giving raises without requiring more realistic contributions from employees. Looking at the county payroll, you see over a dozen management employees with salaries in excess of $200,000/year, including thousands of dollars in overtime, “other pay”, and generous benefits packages, raising their total compensation to over $300,000/year.
The supervisors themselves contribute to the deficit, approving their own annual salary increases – as of 2022, $62,827/year, plus “other pay,” pension and benefits. According to the State Controller, in 2022, the taxpayers contributed $114,749 toward board members’ “total retirement and health contribution”. For one year.
Now they tell us they can’t afford to keep firehouses open? What kind of mismanagement is that? We don’t ask much of these people, if they can’t keep fire houses open they need to step down.
Tell your supe they need to find the money in the budget. They can start by asking employees – including themselves – to accept more rational salaries and pay more reasonable pension shares. This isn’t the Gravy Train.
Chico Taxpayers Association 