Voters ready to make decisions on library funding, sales tax
Gilroy – Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage will run opposed next week, but local voters still have plenty of hot issues to decide, including the fate of a controversial sales tax measure and funding for a new library.
In advance of the June 6 election, the Dispatch is providing a sketch of the candidates, measures and propositions appearing on the ballot. To read more stories, visit www.gilroydispatch.com.
Measure A
Measure A asks voters to approve a half-cent sales tax intended to bail the county out of a $164 million deficit. The county has cut roughly $800 million – or a third of its operating budget – in the last five years, and county leaders say the tax is vital to sustain human services and transportation needs.
Many residents and anti-tax advocates believe the tax represents an end-run around county taxpayers by the Valley Transportation Authority and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, the business association backing a multibillion dollar extension of BART to San Jose.
Earlier in the year, the Leadership Group abandoned support for a new, stand-alone quarter cent sales tax intended to raise billions of dollars for BART and other transportation improvements. The move came after reports circulated that such a measure faced certain defeat. Now the business group is backing the half cent tax, stoking fears that VTA will use a back door to siphon county money for the BART project.
County leaders deny striking back room deals to finance the project, arguing the funds will remain under the control of county supervisors. The ballot measure does not place restrictions on how the money could be spent.
Prop 81
Proposition 81 offers Gilroy its last chance to build a new library as part of a $600 million, statewide bond initiative.
If approved, half of the funds could automatically go to cities like Gilroy that received high marks on previous grant requests.
Prop 82
Proposition 82, also known as Preschool for All, would provide three hours of free preschool for all California 4-year-olds. Married couples earning more than $800,000 annually and singles earning $400,000 a year would pay for the service.
Under the proposition, all preschool teachers working for the state would be required to earn a teaching credential and each class would have both a teacher and an aide.
Water District
The race for District 1 representative to the regional water district’s governing board pits a three-term incumbent, Rosemary Kamei, against three critics of the agency.
Morgan Hill rancher Johne Baird contends the Santa Clara Valley Water District must take a “common sense” approach to programs such as creek maintenance and pay greater attention to citizen concerns.
Terry Mahurin, a retired engineer, and Ram Singh, a college professor of water resources management, have blasted the water district for straying from its core mission of flood control and water distribution. Mahurin thinks the district needs to slash programs and staff; Singh would preserve most agency programs while stripping away duplicate efforts.
Kamei defends the agency’s $260 million budget, saying she hopes to engage more residents in district programs during a fourth term.
28th district
Democratic primary
Salinas Mayor Anna Caballero and Watsonville Councilwoman Ana Ventura Phares will square off Tuesday to decide who will represent Democrats this fall in the 28th District Assembly race.
The primary is widely seen as an early coronation of the next assembly representative in the heavily Democratic 28th, though the winner must still face Hollister businessman Ignacio Velazquez, the sole GOP candidate.
Caballero has focused on restructuring the priorities of state funding and early-childhood education, which she sees as a tool to prevent violence and keep kids in school. Ventura Phares has placed her focus on securing greater funds for K-12 education, as well as health care and insurance for working families.
The candidates hope to replace Assemblyman Simon Salinas (D-Salinas), who is vacating the seat to run for a supervisor position in Monterey County.
