Madera County, California, Fire And Sheriff Services Sales Tax, Measure L (March 2017)

Shall Madera County enact a one percent public safety sales tax in the unincorporated area of the County to: Improve firefighting services throughout the county; Increase the number of paid and volunteer firefighters; Improve instructional and training services for volunteer firefighters; and, Increase the number of sheriff deputies; with annual public audits and citizen oversight for a period of twenty years and all funds controlled locally pursuant to Ordinance No. 683?^[2]

Measure L has been placed on the ballot by the Madera County Board of Supervisors. If approved at this election, Measure L would enact a one percent (1%) new sales and use taxes set forth in County Ordinance Number 683. The new sales and use tax would be in addition to, but charged and collected in the same manner as, current sales and use taxes are charged and collected. The new sales and use tax would only be charged and collected within the unincorporated areas of the County. The proceeds of the new sales and use tax could only be spent by the County for the purposes specified in the Ordinance and in the approved Expenditure Plan. Those purposes include the hiring of new deputies and a variety of new public safety services within the unincorporated areas of the County provided by the County Sheriff’s Department, and additional fire stations, equipment, firefighters, and related services within the unincorporated areas of the County provided by the County Fire Department. The Ordinance and Expenditure Plan require that the new sales tax proceeds be spent within the unincorporated areas of the County. The Ordinance and Expenditure Plan also require annual audits on how the sales tax proceeds are spent and call for the creation of a Citizens Oversight Committee which is charged with reviewing all expenditures on an annual basis to insure that expenditures are consistent with the Ordinance and Expenditure Plan. As set forth in the California Constitution, approval of this Measure requires the affirmative vote of not less than 2/3 of those voting on the Measure. If approved by the voters, the proposed new sales and use tax would go into effect during the fourth quarter of 2017 and would remain in effect for a period of 20 years. A copy of the Ordinance and the approved Expenditure Plan are available in the office of the Madera County Clerk.^[2]

Measure L is a one-cent specific use public safety sales tax measure that will enhance County Fire Department and County Sheriff's Office services in the unincorporated areas of Madera County for a 20-year period.

Measure L will provide enhanced fire protection in the unincorporated flatland and mountain regions of the County with additional Fire Department staffing, equipment, and additional volunteer Paid Call Firefighter services and support programs that will improve response times to save life and property. Measure L will also provide funding to the Sheriff's Office for additional personnel and related facilities and services to fight and prevent crime in the unincorporated areas of the County.

Measure L will be locally controlled and not replace existing funds currently allocated to the Fire Department and Sheriff's Office. As noted in the Expenditure Plan, an oversight committee will be formed and annual audits will be performed to ensure that promises are kept.

By voting YES on Measure L, the County of Madera will be able to take an important step in becoming the County we all envision and increase the "Quality of Life" to our residents.

I strongly urge you to vote YES on Measure L!^[2]

The FIRST RESPONSIBILITY of the County Board of Supervisors (BOS) is to provide fire and emergency services for Madera citizens from existing tax revenues. Madera County Board of Supervisors (BOS) have done just the opposite:

• In FY2016/2017 only 6.3 Million was approved for Fire Protection - (2.36% of the County Budget)

• By contrast the county spends 29.9 % (77.6 Million) on Welfare

• Between 12/8/15 and 1/16/16 the BOS raised county workers' salaries by $4.6 Million

• In 2016/2017- millions more have been approved for salary increases and benefits

• County is spending nearly $200K for a consultant to inform residents about this 1% sales tax increase.

• County approved $311K to for a 956-acre OHV Park off HWY41 west of O'Neal's. If approved, additional funds will be required and open the county for liability claims

• County is planning on spending more than $500K for a Madera County Monument sign off HWY41

• March 7, 2017 special election will cost approximately $100K

• These increased expenditures total over 7 Million dollars annually

• The proposed Sales Tax increase of 1% is will raise Madera Sales Tax to 9% and is estimated to raise between 4-8 Million annually within the first 10 years, approximately what the County has already spent annually on increasing salaries and frivolous projects. This represents only 25% of what the fire Department needs ($20 Million)

Additionally:

• Madera property owners are paying hundreds of dollars/year on property taxes for School bonds and special assessments passed in previous years.

• Measure C passed on June 7, 2016 will increase property taxes starting in 2017.

• Increasing fire personnel is no guarantee of reduced ISO ratings and lower property insurance.

Without fire and safety protection nothing else matters!

Vote NO on Measure L

It's NOT lack of money — it's Misguided Priorities

More information at www.NoOnMeasureL.org^[2]