League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Diego County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Proposition J Sales Tax Increase for City Services City of El Cajon Majority Approval Required Pass: 15069 / 51.77% Yes votes ...... 14040 / 48.23% No votes See Also: Index of all Propositions

Arguments For Proposition J

Arguments Against Proposition J

Local police officers, firefighters, business and civic leaders, parents and citizens throughout El Cajon urge you to VOTE YES on Proposition J--to protect our community from devastating cuts that will impact El Cajon's quality of life for years to come. Our City is facing a serious budget crisis. Like many other communities in California, El Cajon's problem is a growing General Fund deficit caused by skyrocketing operational costs at a time when city revenues are declining. The City has no control over these trends yet it must address them to maintain a balanced budget. City leaders have been proactive in controlling costs by reducing services, eliminating positions and programs, delaying infrastructure maintenance, using attrition, and implementing strict cost controls. But now there is nothing left to cut except essential services including public safety. Proposition J will PREVENT extreme reductions in essential City services including: Eliminating dozens of police and firefighter positions Taking emergency equipment out of service--hurting 911 emergency response times Drastically reducing street maintenance services Terminating Recreation programs including after-school activities that keep kids away from drugs, gangs and crime Because of the scale of El Cajon's budget shortfall, only two choices remain: generate additional revenue or continue making deep cuts to city services. Proposition J, will provide a stable source of local funding to prevent devastating and extreme cuts to El Cajon City services. 100% of Proposition J funds will stay in El Cajon to provide essential city services--including public safety, so emergency responders like police, firefighters, and paramedics are available to help when you need them most. Proposition J REQUIRES accountability. An lndependent Citizens' Oversight Committee and mandatory audits will ensure funds are spent properly. Future changes to Proposition J cannot be made without a vote of the people. Protect your investment in El Cajon. PLEASE--VOTE YES on J. RODNEY L. GEILENFELDT II El Cajon Firefighter Paramedic & El Cajon Resident DEBBIE COMSTOCK Community Advocate & El Cajon Resident BUELL W. STONE Local Businessman & Executive Director for Stoney's Kids JIM REDMAN El Cajon Police Officer & 18 Year Resident WILLIAM B. KOLENDER El Cajon Resident

SHAME ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR TRYING TO FOOL TAXPAYERS. Prop J pretends to be a tax primarily for fire and police protection. That is false; Prop J is a smokescreen. NOT ONE CENT in Prop J is earmarked for public safety. All Prop J money goes into the city General Fund so politicians can spend it however they want. The true reason for Prop J is that salaries and benefits now eat up 77% of the General Fund. El Cajon has a Rolls Royce employee pension plan. Employees do not contribute a penny to their guaranteed City pensions; YOU pay it all. In a shocking admission of defeat, city officials write, "all costs are out of the City's control." They cannot control themselves, so they want taxpayers to pay for their spending binge. PROP J TAX GIVES EL CAJON THE HIGHEST SALES TAX RATE IN THE STATE. Prop J's tax hike is in addition to the proposed County fire tax, and a likely statewide sales tax hike. In the face of a looming recession, another tax hike is the last thing we need in El Cajon. High taxes in El Cajon will add to the cost of gasoline, driving major retail purchases away from El Cajon to cities that charge lower sales taxes. PROP J FORCES THE SECOND EL CAJON SALES TAX HIKE IN FOUR YEARS. El Cajon administrators have spent nearly $20,000 of your tax dollars to induce voters to support higher taxes. El Cajon voters shouldn't be bullied into higher taxes by politicians who prey on our genuine concerns for safety services and other vital needs. Please vote "No on J" to stop higher taxes in El Cajon - the highest tax rate in California. Tell politicians you resent efforts to fool you about how our tax money is spent. Please vote NO on Prop J. http://www.NoElCajonSalesTax.org THE HONORABLE JOEL ANDERSON California State Assemblyman RICHARD RIDER San Diego Tax Fighters, Chairman JOHN O'NEILL San Diego County Taxpayers Association, Chairman MICHAEL METTI El Cajon Homeowner/Businessowner TONY KRVARIC Republican Party of San Diego County, Chairman