EL CAJON VOTERS TO DECIDE ON SALES TAX HIKE

Councilman blasts Assembly Rep for opposing Prop J without consulting
Council or Mayor

By Miriam Raftery

77th District Assemblyman Joel Anderson

Voters in El Cajon will decide whether or not to approve Proposition J,
which would raise sales tax by one-half cent on the dollar.

“The decision to place a sales tax increase on the ballot for El Cajon
residents was quite painful for the Mayor and City Council,” said Dick
Ramos, the most senior member of the Council.   Mayor Mark Lewis
also supports the tax increase, which city leaders say is critical  to
fund police and fire services, parks maintenance and other vital services.   The
ballot argument in favor states that “there is nothing left to cut except
essential services including public safety.” 

El Cajon faces a $6 million budget shortfall due to the downturn in the economy,
loss of sales tax revenues from plummeting automobile sales, and cuts in state
funding to California cities.  Neighboring La Mesa has also placed a sales
tax increase proposal on the ballot.  Individual police and firefighters
have signed the ballot argument in favor of the measure.

Opponents
argue that if Prop J is approved, El Cajon will have the highest sales tax
rate in the state at 8.75 percent.  “In the face of a
looming recession, another tax hike is the last thing we need in El Cajon,” states
the ballot statement against Prop J.  Opponents argue that the measure
would drive major retail purchases away from El Cajon to cities that charge
lower sales tax.  Automobile taxes are charged not on where vehicles are
sold, but on where buyers live. However some buyers aren’t aware of this
and may avoid buying cars in El Cajon, opponents fear.

The measure is opposed by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association and by
Assemblyman Joel Anderson. Anderson’s signature on the ballot argument
against Prop J has drawn ire from Ramos, who endorsed Anderson’s opponent,
Democrat Ray Lutz as a result.

“I was extremely disappointed that Anderson personally interfered in
the business of El Cajon by signing the ballot arguments against Prop J without
researching our situation or even discussing it with the Mayor and members
of the Council,” Ramos said.  “I wish Anderson would do his
job in Sacramento and provide more money to the many cities that are bleeding
red ink instead of tampering in local politics, apparently for nothing more
than media exposure for his own campaign.”

Anderson has steadfastly opposed all efforts to raise revenues at the state
level, including opposing all new taxes and even voting against elimination
of a tax loophole for yacht owners.

“I’ve studied the budget of El Cajon and I can tell you that there
is little, if any, fat to cut,” Lutz said.  “The cities are
faced with massive cuts to staff and services if they are not able to raise
additional revenue.  One of the reasons I am seeking a state in the State
Assembly is to help fix the difficult financial situation of both the state
and local cities.”

If elected, Lutz pledged, “One of my top priorities will be to reform
the state budget process and return revenue to local government.”

El Cajon voters last approved a sales tax increase of one-half cent in 2004.  If
approved, Proposition J would expire in 20 years, though Lutz has called for
reducing the tax rate sooner when the economy improves.