PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

April 2003

Among things we do getting ready for Annual Dinners, the only full Membership Meeting during any year, is to prepare an Annual Report for presentation to our Members. And this year is no different. This year’s Annual Dinner, on April 24th celebrates our 42nd Anniversary. And looking back over the past year it has shown to be among the most active and exciting in our history. In last year’s President Richard Mersereau’s words, “The report becomes an analysis as to whether or not the Sacramento County Taxpayers League actually has been successful in its mission to function as a voice and defender of the taxpayers in the County and its Cities.”

In 2002, the League analyzed many local issues, and participated in a number of community activities. It is part of the Water Forum Successor Effort Oversight Committee of the Water Forum Agreement, and is a stakeholder in the Sacramento Transportation and Air Quality Collaborative. It has representatives in Bond Measure Oversight Committees of the San Juan and Natomas Unified School Districts. After two years working with the Sacramento City Unified School District Bond Measure Oversight Committee, the League withdrew its representative as the Committee seemed unable to gain cooperation from the District to be effective.

Its Sacramentans for a Fair Utility Tax Recipient Committee placed Measure T on the November ballot to reduce the City of Sacramento’s unfair Utility Users Tax from 7.5% to 2.5% over a five year period, and to extend the utility tax rebate program to all City residents with yearly incomes of $25,000 or less. This is the first time in the League’s history that it raised the money, gathered the signatures, and put a Measure on a ballot in its own name. It was also successful as a plaintiff in a four-year legal action, which put Measures G and H on the November ballot, giving County voters the opportunity to vote on the County’s illegal utility tax, and hotel tax increase. As a result of both these actions, the League was responsible for three local Measures being placed on one ballot at the same time, believed to be a first in the County’s history.

It is estimated the League has been successful in keeping about $300 million dollars in the hands of area residents from its successful actions during the past 5 years. And by introducing Measure T, the League caused the City to pass a Resolution expanding their existing utility tax rebate program for seniors over 62 years of age and the disabled, with yearly incomes of $25,000 or less, to all City residents with yearly incomes of less than $25,000. This single action enables as many as 44,000 additional City of Sacramento residents to apply for a utility tax rebate, which by City estimates should return about $2.5 million to low-income residents each year.

Once again, we firmly believe we fulfilled our mission as the voice and defender of the taxpayer. And I look forward to the rest of this year to continue our mission.

Joe Sullivan