Captain Leyva Denounces Baca's Tax Hike

By Ray Leyva

Captain Ray Leyva calls on Board of Supervisors to deny measure for the November ballot

"Before we ever entertain the notion of raising people's taxes, we have to make sure our own house is in order, and we are far from achieving that. Sales tax hikes are regressive, punishing those that can least afford them, while at the same time rewards an administration that has shown poor stewardship of the public's resources," said Captain Leyva. Captain Leyva said the proposed $300 million dollar bond currently being pushed by Sheriff's Department is another example of poor fiscal planning, with the recent spate of jail violence highlighting how years of administrative neglect can have a profound impact on the safety of staff and inmates alike. He said the bond measure would fund facility structural changes as well as operating expenses, but leave the voter with a 30 year property tax increase. "The current administration has had eight years to figure out how to prioritize the public safety needs of Los Angeles County, and these two tax hike proposals will not do it. With a $1.9 billion dollar budget, there is plenty of room to rethink our entire operation and align our spending plans with the priorities of the people of Los Angeles County, which is public safety," said Captain Leyva. With his campaign theme of "Back to Basics," Captain Leyva said that by refocusing resources on what has an actual impact on public safety, there is considerable room to identify the funds necessary for infrastructure upgrades within the jail system. He also indicated that a thorough assessment of institutional capacities and long term funding streams can be used to address the broader issue of how much of the county's general fund should be devoted to law enforcement and public safety. "Public safety should always be priority one, but at the same time we need to uphold our fiduciary responsibility with the tax payer that foots the bill," said Captain Leyva.