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4/25/2018 Measure DD: Police and Fire Parcel Tax - Alameda County, CA http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/11/02/ca/alm/meas/DD/2/8 The ordinance provides that the City will adopt administrative guidelines to assist in implementing this tax. The administrative guidelines will address how the taxing category for mixed-use property will be determined, address procedures to allow lower income senior citizen residential property owners to apply for a tax reduction, and will address matters related to the interpretation and enforcement of the ordinance. The ordinance provides a claims procedure for requesting a tax refund, and imposes penalties for untimely or unpaid taxes. This tax is a special tax. If approved by the voters, this special tax becomes effective on January 1, 2005. The ordinance will be repealed 5 1/2 years after the effective date unless previously extended by the voters. The ordinance specifies that proceeds from this special tax may only be used to fund police and fire protection services as that term is defined in the ordinance. As this tax is a special tax, it requires a "yes" vote of two-thirds of the voters to pass. s/JAYNE W. WILLIAMS City Attorney Arguments For Measure DD Arguments Against Measure DD Over the past 10 years San Leandro's population has grown by more than 10,000 (14%). Today, the total of our sworn police officers and firefighters is six fewer than we had 10 years ago. Through efficient management of limited financial resources, the Police and Fire Departments have been able to respond to increasing numbers of service calls to maintain an effective level of public safety in the community. At 1.2 officers per 1,000 population, San Leandro's police staffing is 33% lower than the average police staffing level throughout Alameda County. The City's population is still growing. In a perfect world we would be adding, not eliminating police officers. San Leandro's level of fire staffing is also significantly lower than the County-wide average. We have 7 fire companies housed in 5 stations throughout the City. Cutting one company (9 firefighters and a ladder truck) would increase response times and risk loss of life and property. The safety and well-being of San Leandro residents is at risk. We're not adding personnel; this Public Safety measure will allow us to maintain the level we have today. For less than 22 cents a day, we will maintain our current level of public safety protection and retain some of the finest police officers and firefighters in the Bay Area. Faced with Unless you are a Non-Subsidized taxpayer, a renter living with-in the city, or a city home-owner, then Vote No on Measure DD. Bear in mind, multi-family landlords, industrial and commercial property owners as a group, pay little or no tax. Businesses pass on all cost for their service or products on down to their customers. First come "rent" increases, then comes "homeowners" property tax increases, and followed by tax/cost increases due to public mandated products or services, such as Gas, Electricity, Telephone, Water and Gasoline. Again, with a disingenuous move, the city created a meaningless budget based on their "public safety parcel tax." In an effort to instill fear in the voters, the City is complaining again about lost tax revenue, which is not realized but only predicted. Also, the city continues using their same old ideas, of cutting police, fire and city libraries . . .! Let us not overlook voters of San Leandro, who themselves, have lawfully provided their own tax repeal ballot measure marked (G) for the past November 7, 2000 City election. At that time, city voters had the historic opportunity to repeal a tax that was a city enacted property tax, "without voters approval." The supporter's without unlimited cash_ cannot compete with the city's financial resources