The Concord City Council voted unanimously (5-0) to place a local tax measure on the November 2020 ballot.
If enacted by voters, the measure would extend the City’s existing Measure Q at a one-cent rate (an increase of 1/2-cent).
“Extending this funding will be critical to addressing our local needs with locally controlled funding that cannot be taken by the State, and at a time when we cannot depend on adequate state or federal funding to address local relief and recovery efforts, said City Manager Valerie Barone.
Measure Q, which was supposed to be a temporary five-year tax, was first passed by voters in 2010.
It is expected a one-cent sales tax could generate about $27 million annually.
Everybody rack you memory to remember all the good that Measure Q did when first passed.
THEN VOTE NO to extend and increase it.
Show them that you are not stupid and actually think.
Like this was a surprise to anyone.
They are not good stewards with the funds they have to manage already, thus no more “taxation without representation”. Learn to live within your budgets like the rest of us have to.
I have not been given any additional funds to support myself plus my hours have been cut at work due to the pandemic.Many of us are on a limited income but that does not seem to bother anyone holding an office now days.
Instead of asking for more money from us you should be ashamed of yourselves. Cut back on all of the foolish funding and not charging criminals for their fines and court costs and supporting illegals. Try that for a start.
The Democrats and Liberals must stop coming to us taxpayers as we do not have money trees growing. Do you?
VOTE NO!!!!!!!!
Why wouldn’t you vote for more taxes on yourselves to fund their Pensions? Californians love taxing themselves for nebulous promises that are never delivered.
Exactly, Mamba.
Not giving these crooks one cent more.
Voting NO! Tired of these bureaucrats mis using tax money!
I’ll vote no. I’m sick of the lack of repair of our streets; specifically heading east on Treat Bl. between Ygnacio Woods Ct. and Cowell Rd.
The street in front of my house hasn’t been repaved in years. We all pay tens of thousands in property tax, a state income tax and high sales taxes. Enough is enough.
I often wonder if the out-of-the-way neighborhoods I walk that have fresh, newly paved streets (not well-traveled roads) are where city council members live.
My family and I will vote no on any new taxes!
It will go to raises and pension adjustments, first. The superintendents and city managers always pay themselves FIRST. There will never be enough money, by design.
I’m done with Measure Q. It’s been 10 years and think they could have done better with how the money was used.
Quit your wasteful spending and tighten your belt…I will vote No.
No
new
taxes.
NO!!!
To all Concord residents- Make sure to vote yes so your city can continue to utilize those tax dollars in a responsible and efficient manner. Gotta keep the gravy train rolling.
Did I get this correct ? Measure Q is and extension and increase for Sales Tax ? (1/2 cent extension + 1/2 additional), I don’t think the 1st 1/2 was effective and delivered the results, and now they double it, my guess we’ll see the same results … Can you say, “throwing money down a rat home ?” (Unfortunately it will probably pass, the CoVid passion plea will play with the voters, and the execution and results will be discount and ignored), no new Taxes until our elected Officials address the Gorrilla in the room … Bloated Pensions … Sorry Concord Officials, our trust in your ability to manage and make the hard calls is not there, lost with constant broken promises(
Voting No because of the past misuse of funds.
Sorry, but the sob story isn’t going to work this time.
Vote NO
This is what you get when your city council can’t make deals because of their ideology. Vacant lots downtown, vacant office space all over, vacant retail, frozen navy property. The anti business attitude costs money. Nobody wants to invest in Concord. Restrictions, regulations, obscene start up fees, arbitrary requirements. No incentive for anyone. Without businesses generating money, they attack us for more shillings. Get some leaders in charge and this city will do a 180
The roads and other service were supposed to be priority from the first temporary tax. It must have worked. Look at the roads and see how they improved!! What a joke to want more of the same. VOTE NO ON THE TAX EXTENSION!!
That’s just what they need to get the job done, right? More money, right?
If they just had a little more ($27 mil) then it would be enough. Right?
Man, c’mon. Open you eyes. The money is squandered.
oh wait a minute ….city council
you also made us a sanctuary city per democrats of the state
so go get money from them ….because we are done ….youve been taxing us and taxing us ….and what have you done ….nothing but extend and promote more programs to abuse our tax money
you have lied and corrupted the gov that runs this city and is supposed to move it forward and progress it to bigger and better ….
you city council have stolen money …and tried to put us on the hook for a soccer stadium ….pushed for solar at the schools then gave the job to an out of state company that i am sure had ties to the council for a kickback…in my opinion
now you again want us to fork over money when you have repeatedly not listened to the masses but a small portion and directed to city in a one direction of democrat control and criminal pandering …
the masses of hard working tax paying american citizens are fed up and tired of you ….
you should be promoting structure and confidence and support for tax payers ….YOU mock them abuse them ignore them and then tax them
corruption on a democrat scale will not win you anything even splitting into districts like the chicago projects so you will have no competition and seal your seat for years to come is going to end as well
you have pissed us off and been vacant and cowering for months only to rear your head and demand a tax hike so your families can eat and be well off ….no sir ……
i would suggest you start looking for other jobs …..i hear your local antifa is hiring ….put on your mask and grab a bat and fight with your chosen followers
please stop the double talk and just go away ….
your not wanted or needed we can shoot ourselves in the foot and over tax ourselves with out you ….obviously
you have hitched your proverbial wagon to a democrat oppression agenda of the middle class …..you were wrong to do so ….
may you get a reality check next election and feel what we feel when someone kicks you and throws criminals at you and allows legal theft and hinders police form doing their jobs of protecting the american citizen tax payer ….
again open up the want adds your going to need them soon
the nerve of your chatter of
“Extending this funding will be critical to addressing our local needs with locally controlled funding that cannot be taken by the State….
we all know you are beholding to the state democrats and give them money regularly for sanctuary of illegals ….
It is expected a one-cent sales tax could generate about $27 million annually.
and you took the time to have someone else write and post this for you and it would be nice if you actually gave us a reason your taxing us with out representation …where is the money going …would be nice ….and legally expected ….but we all know democrats never actually pound down on where the money will go or they just lie and say roads and give it to illegals and special interests and bart and MTC….
we the people refuse to back your success over ours and with our money …get a job ….we dont want you here ….your policies have put us where we are now
and that is crime ridden ….bum ridden and hate ridden and democrat beholding ….
youve killed the horse and now wan it to pull the plow …lol
you are so self absorbed in your democrat praise and entitlement and anti america support …..that you believe you can do what ever you want
that is not the case ….you have embarrassed yourselves for long enough
Perfectly said.
No thank you. A 10 year temporary tax didn’t work. More will not help. How about selling the Humvee the police own?
Have they done any evaluations of departments that can be eliminated ie. Recreation Dept. that a very small percentage of the citizens use? Keep the parks and pool and drop the rest.
Why not just ask for a 2% increase since we all know that 1% won’t be enough? JUST VOTE NO and make cuts necessary to balance the budget. How about starting with an across the board salary/wage cut except for police.
A 5 to 0 vote should make it easy next time you fill out a ballot. Vote (all) of the scoundrels out. Kinda like being temporarily pregnant, these temporary taxes have a way of hanging around your wallet for a long time. Just one more reason to leave California says this native Californian.
hmmmm… Work for the City perhaps? They take, take, take… but where are the improvements? Their paychecks are bloated, benefits too. Why don’t you just write them a check? I’ve given plenty. Enough is enough. It’s a NO vote from me.
Expenses need to be controlled prior to seeking additional revenue. Fiscal responsibility is needed first.
I’d just like to say, it’s nice seeing something we can all agree on. No new increases in taxes? You’re all together? Awesome. Have a great middle of the week!
Please…do NOT vote for more taxes!! Aren’t we taxed enough and get little in return??
Walnut Creek is up next to beg for more tax payer money.
Only to continue to spend foolishly.
Concord budget is $110 million.
Walnut Creek is half the population of Concord, but their budget is now $79 million, formerly $90+ million. Shouldn’t it be around $55 million?
What is the Walnut Creek city council paying over $20 million more per year than other cities. Does anyone care to find out?
Just looked at Pleasant Hills’ new one year budget. It is almost $26 million.
Pleasant Hill is half the population of Walnut Creek.
Let’s double the Pleasant Hill budget and we get $52 million. How does Walnut Creek account for a $79 million budget?
That new pool at HFP should have been built and paid for years ago.
@JJ – I think you’re making an apples to oranges comparison. PH and WC share few comparables as far as both cities’ makeup. PH is essentially a bedroom community with some retail, albeit medium/lower end. Doesn’t even have a new car dealership. WC clearly is an upscale suburban community with high end retail and dining, new car dealerships, and a higher end demographic overall.
Given that, I would expect WC’s budget for police services to be higher than PH. However, as someone who has lived in PH since 1998, I’ve always been very pleased with the service and response from PHPD.
Thank you Mary Fouts for reading my comments.
But as a resident of Walnut Creek since 1980, there is an elephant in the room that no one in Walnut Creek wishes to deal with.
Concord has car dealerships. And Walnut Creek really doesn’t over spend on the police. Compared to other surrounding cities. I always laughed when people would tell me folks from Alamo would call WCPD for help because they didn’t want to call the sheriffs. Many years ago, a council person was lobbying to get the police department off the city’s budget and contract through the county sheriffs like Alamo. But she didn’t have too many supporters.
I just googled median income for PH and WC. It read PH $81,000 and WC $86,000 approximately. If this is true, I wouldn’t brag about ‘upscale’ Walnut Creek.
They did do something. Back in 2010 they enacted a tax increase to support all the functions you mentioned but as you also noted, very little of that was actually done. Hmmm
NO!
No! to 9.25 %
Great job, Leone and Carlyn for voting NO on the extension the first time.
And hell no would I vote for another new tax. Fix the roads, dump the hobos, and let cops fight actual crime.
Dump at least one Captain and 2 LT positions from the PD and make those positions real, working patrol officers.
Valerie Barone
City Manager (2019)
Regular pay: $278,480.51
Overtime pay: $0.00
Other pay: $19,294.10
Total pay: $297,774.61
Benefits: $77,755.78
Pension debt: $71,532.71
Total pay & benefits: $447,063.10
A big no on that. They have not used what they had wisely and what has been done is not of very good quality. Dinkenger is a new road, but is very bumpy for one that was just done. Go to any other city and there’s are glass smooth. Makes me wonder how well of a job they did with the compaction of the base road. In other areas they have done so much cut and patch that it is absolutely absurd, and the road between the patch’s is already failing. We need to clear house and get some new blood in there that will be financially responsible in making sure we get what we paid for and it’s done right. But for now I would not give them one dime, and no more tax’s until that happens
Of course they hired FM3 Research for guidance. What are the ethics of using voter tax money to convince voters to vote for something they don’t want.
Do you remember the bloated middle management, ridiculous pay raises and benefits, exorbitant golden parachutes, bowing to the police union when their budget was only 50% now 60% of total, increasing their own pay from a stipend to a salary, meet the new council same as the old.
Services have declined, roads decrepit, streets looking 3rd world, businesses and residents leaving in droves because of their incompetent management.
Things won’t change until we hold them accountable, since they dont listen to us in chambers, we need to force them at the ballot box.
Vote no, will give them no other choice but to act responsiby with the taxes they do get instead of squandering a new tax hike.
They ask for an increase but neglect to explain how the first tax was used…give the people an explanation of WHERE the original tax was used..never see this happen..when an increase is requested……
Here is a site that shows Concord employees pay for 2019:
https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2019/concord/?page=1
It is refreshing as some have pointed out that we can all can agree that we will not vote on any more new taxes, especially to a state that collects more from us than any in the country. But beware of what Senator Glazier is proposing on a new measure that will only require a 50% vote to raise taxes as opposed to the current 2/3 requirement. They hire consultants to confuse people into voting themselves more taxes. Don’t be confused….NO MORE TAXES!!!
The County supervisors are targeting Concord to collect this tax since they are the only city in the county with the ability to levy an additional tax at this time. This was discussed at the County Supervisors meeting in March I believe.
As an indication of the liabilities the City of Concord is facing, one needs only look at the employer contribution to the pension plans provided employees. It is unsustainable and rising yearly.
This graph tells it all visually:
https://www.cocotax.org/resources/Pension%20Crisis/Concord%20Trending%20-%202016%20a.pdf
The changes to the plans are explained here:
https://www.cocotax.org/pension-crisis
How much do you want to bet, that even with all the responses on this board saying no, the voting results will be an overwhelming yes, and it will pass with flying colors.
Unfortunately, that will most likely be the case. Fools don’t die off, they just change. I am voting no, just thievery and incompetence from these so called ‘leaders’
If the Concord City Council voted unanimously (5-0) to place a local tax measure on the November 2020 ballot, that’s a hard NO vote from me!
How can we draw up a measure to have Contra Costa County’s financial statements audited by an outside reputable audit firm just to see how the money is being allocated?
That is obscene thievery
It’ll be different this time honey… honest!
I know I’ve let you down in the past…
Cheated, sneaked around, spent our money like a drunken sailor…
But this time it WILL be different.
Just one more time, please!
We really need to have a another chance…
It’s the best thing we can do for everyone…. again.
You can trust me this time…
Really… I really, truly mean it now.
Trust me!
Would I lie?