Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Letter to the Editor: About Dirt Swept Under Rug

    Dear Editor:

    District 5 and District 3 citizens, taxpayers and voters, another Government Code Section 54950, Brown Act Violation and 3.95 million reasons not to re-elect Darren Spellman and Merita Callaway.

    April 29, 2014 during the quarterly evening meeting, the proverbial rug was lifted and the dirt swept under it by the Board of Supervisors.

   The California Land Conservation (Williamson Act) was on the agenda.  An issue that was not properly dealt with in 2009 was part of the presentation.

   Calaveras County has a subvention overpayment debt liability of $322,391.04 to the State of California since 2008.

   During the August 29, 2009 meeting the Board discussed the problem, an oddity took  place; the Board did not discuss putting the Subvention funding liability on the books.

   In fact, until this year, the debt was not on Calaveras County's books. The reasoning, the Board was hoping subvention funding would be reinstated.

   The current law AB1265 was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Brown in 2011.

   This bill establishes the revised form of the Williamson Act through 2016. A process must be followed.

   Calaveras County is authorized to revise the term for Williamson Act Contracts from 10 years to 9 years.

   This gives a 10% reduction in contract length in return for retaining 90% of the property tax relief offered by the Act.

    What is the benefit to the county?  The generated revenues by a new contract will go directly to the county.

    The total annual assessed value of Williamson Act parcels is $39.5 million. Calaveras County, based on this 10% would receive approximately $3.95 million to help offset the $8 million deficit.

      Why hasn't the County held a public hearing to address this financial issue AB1265 and the process with the citizens, taxpayers with respect to Government Code Section 54950, the Brown Act.

   June 3, 2014, lift the rug, use the vacuum cleaner to remove the dirt and two of the five who disrespect the citizens, taxpayers and the Brown Act.

   Joseph Kelly

 

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree. I'm voting for Mike Borean for Supervisor of District 3. He'll be honorable.

Anonymous said...

I like Callaway anyway. Nobody's perfect. she's friends with the Quyles and the Masts, who have a vineyard. They are big supporters

Anonymous said...

Hey Kelly, you don't even live in either district, do you? Who are you campaigning for?

Anonymous said...

He's a Crane supporter, I bet. and is ebbetts pass, he must be a Borean supporter. Thanks, Kelly.

Anonymous said...

No one listens to anything Joe says anyway. We do need to get rid of Spellman, tho

Anonymous said...

It was expressed during last Thursday's meeting that $171,000 is the amount of money swept under the rug. In these financially difficult times, can the county afford not to look at collecting that kind of money?
The fellow who brought it up, asked if it was "chump change" to the board. Of Course, no response.
Will a new tax proposal be coming from the board, soon?