1. What do you consider the most pressing issue for the City of La Mesa?

The most pressing issue is the negative effect of the economy on the city’s income and budget shortfalls, and the challenge of maintaining quality services to the citizens of La Mesa despite budget losses. Much of this has to do with money the state has taken away from cities while limiting the city’s ability to get guaranteed local revenue from any other source.

2. How do you as a councilmember plan to address that issue?

After considerable study, the Council placed a sales tax increase on the November ballot in order to make up for some of the shortfall in revenue. I am committed to keeping taxes as low as possible, yet the city is faced with few alternatives in order to meet its budget.

3. What approach to this issue do others offer?

Most councilmembers support the sales tax increase. One councilmember opposes the increase but offers no solutions. Some members of the public have also been critical and simply say that the city needs to “cut back,” with no specifics.

4. What are the consequences to the city of failing to address this issue?

At our current rate of deficit spending, the city has about two years of reserves in the bank. In order to prevent using that, we will need to make significant and immediate cuts.

                                            

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Prop L, the La Mesa sales tax increase measure, is a terrible idea for many, many reasons. Read more about why this prop should be opposed, and who thinks so. Go to our opposition website.
www.noLaMesaSalesTax.org

Join the San Diego County GOP, the SD County Taxpayers Association and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association in opposing this tax increase.

Richard Rider, Chair, San Diego Tax Fighters , October 16, 2008

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