3,200 mail-in ballots left to be counted in Gilroy
There are 3,200 outstanding mail-in ballots to be counted in the
City responds to grand jury report on emergency, fire services
The City of Gilroy has responded to Santa Clara County Civil
Locals who Were Overcharged for Years, Finally Get Their Tax Refund
Christmas came a day early for Gilroy homeowner Erin Cerdan as she was handed a check for $27,836.14—more than a decade’s worth of overpaid taxes—from County Assessor Larry Stone.“I’m ecstatic,” said Cerdan, an administrative assistant at Pacific Point Christian School who welled up with tears talking to the press. “I invited all my neighbors over. Because we’re a family in this neighborhood. We built our homes together and we were all struggling together for a while there.”Stone, a politician’s politician, orchestrated a media event on a slow news day for the giveaway, like a Publisher’s Clearing House ad, minus the giant check and balloons. “You don’t usually see the assessor giving away money,” he said to the cameras before walking up to Cerdan’s door in the Los Arroyos neighborhood.He was only allowed to go back four years of assessments, but got a special order from the County Board of Supervisors to make up the money for those who had been shorted longer and pay interest on it. Cerdan bought her home in 2002.“We regret this error. It was an innocent error but we have the obligation to make it right,” he added, giving a tearful Cerdan the money. Some 216 Gilroyans will also get checks over the next weeks for a total of $3.3 million as a result of reporting errors that no one has been blamed for.The Los Arroyos neighborhood includes “sweat equity” homes, where the owners helped build the two-story ranch houses in return for below market rate mortgages. Others got a low rate on the condition they wouldn’t sell their home at market rates. The trouble occurred when they were taxed at full market value. Neither the builder, South County Housing, which has built hundreds of other low-income homes without the same problem, nor the city, let the assessor’s office know that these should be taxed at their lower value.Cerdan, whose husband Gabriel works two maintenance jobs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. to afford the house, said the money will take the pressure off him and allow him to spend more time with the family. It will also help pay down some debts.She was the first to notice that her taxes had jumped higher than she was led to believe when she bought the house. Her mortgage payment jumped over $300 a month and was told by the bank that it was for property taxes. Further calls told her that all the neighbors were having their rates raised. When she told them it was a sweat equity home, the county didn’t have paperwork to prove it.Cerdan began organizing the neighbors, some of whom had to choose between buying food and paying the high taxes, and contacted officials including Gilroy Mayor Don Gage, who she thanked for his help.“I don’t blame anyone,” she said. “Fate happens. Nobody’s perfect. Government’s not perfect, but like Larry said, when a problem does come you try to get it resolved as quickly as you can. I believe they did that.“Cerdan gave Pot of Gold chocolate bars to officials and neighbors to celebrate.“All of us were having a hard time with everyday life. That’s everybody,” she said. “I’m not saying just people with low incomes are the only ones. Things happen in life. I had a lot of medical things come up and I kept charging, charging charging. And with the mortgage, I thought we might lose our home, the home we built. So I just kept at it, contacting people and getting the word out.”The next question is how much tax the families will have to pay on the refunds. Stone couldn’t answer that and advised them to speak to tax experts.
Prop 17 regulating vehicle insurance takes early lead
Proposition 17, which would allow insurance companies to reduce
Get Involved Now in Your City Government
Open seatsThis week you had a chance to vote for the people you want to run your city. Now you have a chance to get out and run things yourself.Gilroy has openings for people to serve on city boards, which make policies and recommendations to the City Council about how things should be in the city. For people interested in politics, it’s an excellent first step toward higher office. For people who just want to serve their community, it’s one of the most important things you can do. It’s also tremendously educational.Terms start in the new year and the deadline to apply is Dec. 12. Documents are available at the City of Gilroy website.Here are the openings:The Arts & Culture Commission has one opening on the seven-member board, which advises on all things to do with local art and performance. Meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.The Bicycle Pedestrian Commission has two open seats for people to study and advise on matters of two-wheeled transportation. The five-member commission meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.The Building Board of Appeals has two of five seats open on a commission that hears construction and building appeals. It meets as needed.Community and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee has three of seven open seats. It studies needs and strategies for making neighborhoods better. It meets the third Wednesday of each month at 6:45 p.m.Historic Heritage Committee has one of five seats available to work on preserving Gilroy’s history. It meets the third Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.Housing Advisory Committee has four of nine seats open to study housing matters. It meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m.The Planning Commission has one of seven seats open. More than any body apart from the City Council, this one determines how Gilroy will look. It meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.The Library Commission deals with the library and meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. It has two of five seats open.The Parks and Recreation Commission has two of seven openings to determine all things about parks and fun. It meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.The Personnel Commission has one of five seats available to handle city staff matters. It meets the second Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m.The Physically Challenged Board of Appeals has two of five seats open. It deals with ways the community can help those who are physically challenged. It meets the second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m.The Public Art Commission has two of seven openings to work on matters of public art. It meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m.Don’t just talk about what you want to see in the city: make it happen here.
