We've outlined some of the inequities related to the structure of Moraga's proposed storm drain tax / fee in other articles and on the Storm Drain Central page. What about the fairness of the process itself?
This article is adapted with permission from a resident's NextDoor post.
The council didn't need to jump straight to a tax measure and ignore existing sources of funding that it chooses to spend on wants vs needs, but they did.
The council didn't need to use a prop 218 special ballot that entraps schools and churches, but they did.
The council didn't need to declare a fiscal emergency (on the heels of raises, no less), do nothing about it, and keep it active during the tax initiative, but they did.
The council didn't need to spend $169,000 for a special ballot initiative, including a survey designed to pinpoint a tolerable tax amount and associated marketing messages, but they did.
The council didn't have to hide millions in federal reimbursements by not including them on the financial statements (violating accounting standards), but they did.
The council didn't have to hide they are receiving millions in Palos Colorados funds associated with grading permits, but they did.
The council didn't need to assemble a pro-tax advocacy group, but they did.
The council didn't need to exclude pro/con arguments from the ballot, but they did.
The council didn't have to vote "yes" 12 times over for town-owned property (in essence implying residents are 100% in favor of doing so) but they did.