On the 2008 agenda
This city’s 41st year promises to be one of the busiest ever in local government, due to a record-breaking schedule of four elections, new Old Town development proposals and a General Plan update.
Today and for the next two weeks, we’ll examine issues on the agenda for 2008.
First, let’s look at decisions voters will make beginning this month on a tax hike to pay for landscape maintenance on 14 major streets and a $200 million bond measure in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.
Yorba Linda’s 12,000-plus mail voters will receive ballots next week for the Feb. 5 Presidential primary that includes the school bond, while the landscape tax ballots go out to property owners about two weeks later.
Since both ballots involve items many residents cite as reasons for living in Yorba Linda—a superior school system and well-landscaped open space—and organized opposition has yet to form, sizeable majorities supporting each might be expected.
The measure with the best chance of passing is the school bond, needing a 55 percent “yes” vote. The 2002 $102 million bond won about 66 percent in Yorba Linda, despite opposition from Councilman Allen Castellano and former Councilman John Gullixson.
The volunteer Campaign for Kids 2008 group has distributed material on how the bond money will be spent at each campus and told voters about a citizen watchdog committee that will keep an eye on bond expenditures.
Phone banks, mailers and newspaper ads are getting out positive word on the bonds, which are important to residents with children in local schools and others concerned about home values. The tax is $29.50 per $100,000 assessed valuation for 25 years.
Less sure of passage but still likely to win over residential property owners and the weighted votes of commercial landowners is the arterial landscape tax increase from $47.29 to $91 per year. Current law permits an annual Consumer Price Index hike, but the new measure allows the CPI plus three percent more for 10 years.
That added automatic boost and a colorful four-page, city-paid glossy mailer containing arguments in favor of the increase has led some residents to promote a “no” vote during City Council public comment periods.
Today and for the next two weeks, we’ll examine issues on the agenda for 2008.
First, let’s look at decisions voters will make beginning this month on a tax hike to pay for landscape maintenance on 14 major streets and a $200 million bond measure in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.
Yorba Linda’s 12,000-plus mail voters will receive ballots next week for the Feb. 5 Presidential primary that includes the school bond, while the landscape tax ballots go out to property owners about two weeks later.
Since both ballots involve items many residents cite as reasons for living in Yorba Linda—a superior school system and well-landscaped open space—and organized opposition has yet to form, sizeable majorities supporting each might be expected.
The measure with the best chance of passing is the school bond, needing a 55 percent “yes” vote. The 2002 $102 million bond won about 66 percent in Yorba Linda, despite opposition from Councilman Allen Castellano and former Councilman John Gullixson.
The volunteer Campaign for Kids 2008 group has distributed material on how the bond money will be spent at each campus and told voters about a citizen watchdog committee that will keep an eye on bond expenditures.
Phone banks, mailers and newspaper ads are getting out positive word on the bonds, which are important to residents with children in local schools and others concerned about home values. The tax is $29.50 per $100,000 assessed valuation for 25 years.
Less sure of passage but still likely to win over residential property owners and the weighted votes of commercial landowners is the arterial landscape tax increase from $47.29 to $91 per year. Current law permits an annual Consumer Price Index hike, but the new measure allows the CPI plus three percent more for 10 years.
That added automatic boost and a colorful four-page, city-paid glossy mailer containing arguments in favor of the increase has led some residents to promote a “no” vote during City Council public comment periods.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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