I have some questions regarding the Lake County Vector Control District”s proposed assessment.
1. Why are the ballots due June 30, before the close of the public hearing that day? It seems to me voters should have time ? at least a week or two ? to evaluate the public comments before casting their ballots.
2. Why are the State Education Revenue Augmentation Fund and three redevelopment agencies in Lake County able to tap into the existing funds of an independent special district?
3. It is stated that the new assessment money cannot be used for purposes other than vector control. Why doesn”t this restriction apply to the existing assessment and what is to keep the State Education Revenue Augmentation Fund, the redevelopment agencies, or other entities from deciding next year to take a higher percentage of it?
4. Tiffany Revelle”s article in the Record-Bee states that the district is losing 20 percent of its revenue and its income will be reduced to approximately $1 million. My math tells me this means the current budget is $1,250,000 and that the anticipated dollar loss is $250,000. Yet the proposed assessment is expected to generate $558,000 ? more than double the anticipated loss. I can understand wanting to keep the existing income ? but an increase in the current economy doesn”t make sense.
5. Tiffany”s article was printed several weeks before the ballots arrived. The “Official Notice and Assessment Ballot Information Guide,” which came with the ballots, did not give the information in her article (item 4 above).
I intend to vote against the proposal but not because I don”t think Vector Control is important. I will vote against it because I think the way it has been presented is deceptive and undemocratic.
By the way ? Vector Control District Manager and Research Director Jaime Scott says this is a “benefit assessment, not a property or parcel tax.” Well, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck.
Bert Atwood
Kelseyville
