I have been talking to many people regarding the new taxes that the county is about to pass and there is no doubt that everyone in the county that drives on the roads in the county knows that the roads need to be fixed.
Also, regarding the taxes for the Clear Lake, anyone that uses the Clear Lake knows that this is a needed tax. I believe that we should have a time frame of three years, five years, and 10 years to allow the voter to have a choice because people are fed up with government and it is always about extra money for extra things. On the other hand, it always comes out of the same pocket, whether it is the county, the City, the State or the Federal always wanting more money and we usually getting less services. In realty, people are totally fed up with paying more and getting less. So if the county and city want this to pass I believe that they need to give the voters a choice, because no one is willing to sign a check today to be spent 10 years down the road. The proof is always in the pudding.
Bad timing, at this time CAL FIRE is planning on charging everyone in the State of California that uses their service a fire fee. I can remember going to the forest station at Cobb and paying a permit fee to the forest service for customer permits. Now it is the state wanting extra money, the county, the cities and also the government. And it is not voter choice. The State Board of Equalization will be sending the property owner a bill for $150 per structure.
I thought that we already owned CAL FIRE and was supporting its budget through State taxes? The people of Lake County will be paying this tax when they buy anything in this county, which also kicks back on the “shop at home” idea with the increase in sales tax to be put toward Clear Lake and the roads. The same people always pay ? that is us. If you do not give the voters a choice from what people have said to me, I do not think it will pass at all. Under the circumstances I believe we are better off with something than all of nothing. Just a thought.
Ron Rose
Lakeport
