7 Days to Go

Let's look at the staffing levels in the different departments at the county to see who might benefit the most from the 1/2 cent sales tax increase.

Most of the staffing levels in the county held steady or decreased, including the police and fire deparments. However, two departments had notable increases:

• The Social Service Agency added 57 employees to bring their total level to 2,864 employees.

• The Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System added 44 employees to bring their total level to 6,295 employees.

Note: Just for your reference, the staffing for Housing, Land Use, Environment, and Transportation increased by ONLY 4 employees to 744 total employees.

 (Source for staffing information: FY 2007 Recommended Budget, starting at page 638; you can download a pdf copy of the budget from Santa Clara County's website)

Again, who are the darlings of the Board of Supervisors?

The Board can spend the money from the sales tax increase on anything they want. There are NO restrictions. Pull out your sample ballot and read the County Counsel's Impartial Analysis. It says that "the tax proceeds may be used by the county for any legal governmental purpose without restriction."

The Board of Supervisors could spend the sales tax increase on more clinics to beef up the health system, or the board could really start funding affordable housing, or the transportation system might even get token amounts. 

Or the Board of Supervisors could shovel the tax increase into the welfare bucket.

Ask yourself, will the taxpayer really have any say once the county has the money? Be honest.

Did you know? We 28 Welfare Fraud Investigators on the staff.

Did you know? Between the DA and the Public Defender, we have 1 paralegal and 43 Senior paralegals on staff.

Did you know? We have 410 Social Workers on staff, yet only 188 Deputy Sheriffs on staff in the Field Enforcement Bureau.

Did you know? We have 110 Child Support Officers on staff.

Did you know? The DEBS Program Services Fund has 657 Eligibility Workers/Supervisors/Examiners on staff.

Did you know? The Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System increases its staff every year in spite of deficits. Currently, as stated above, we have 6,295 Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System employees on staff.

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Send a strong message to the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors.
 
Vote NO on Measure A

P.S. Come back tomorrow.Is the Board of Supervisors to be trusted? Are all the other Boards of Supervisors to be trusted going out the next 30 years? Would you give money to anybody for 30 years, year after year?

What makes you think the Board of Supervisors is making the correct taxing and spending decisions?

The Board of Supervisors RAISED the fees for child adoption. Isn't raising fees on people who are helping humanity (and the county) a cruel, heartless act? And the Board of Supervisors wants you to TRUST  them.