Gov. Brown's $17 billion Delta tunnels plan faces new hurdle -- a leading taxpayers organization

[KamaAina]

http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_29691936/jerry-browns-17-billion-delta-tunnels-plan-faces

The district's staff has insisted for years that it can raise property taxes on Santa Clara County homeowners without a public vote to help pay for the tunnels because the project is simply an addition to the State Water Project, the series of dams and canals that was authorized by state voters in 1960 at the urging of Brown's father, Gov. Pat Brown.

That vote predated Proposition 13, the 1978 measure that requires most new taxes to be approved by voters. But this month, one of California's leading taxpayer groups waded into the battle, joining environmentalists in raising major questions about the tunnels project.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association -- founded by the co-author of Proposition 13 -- sent water agencies in Silicon Valley and Alameda County a letter suggesting possible legal action. The letter argued that the tunnels were not part of the original State Water Project plan and that any property tax hike to fund them would be illegal without voter approval. ...

"This tunnels project is already on financially thin ice at best. Requirements for a two-thirds vote to provide property taxes to pay for it would effectively kill it," said Jonas Minton, a former state Department of Water Resources official who now works with environmental groups.

Another proposal is being floated to kill Gov. Brown's high-speed rail project to pay for the completion of three large reservoirs. Would not those reservoirs be part of the State Water Project? If one of Brown's pet projects has to go, I'd much rather it be this tunnels thing.

edit: And talk about your strange bedfellows! The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and environmentalists?!

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Jarvas Group,were they not the same bunch that wrecked

California's Education System,and Progressive Governmental Social Programs? Unreal the end results that have wreaked havoc on local units of Government in their ability to stay solvent when it comes to Real Estate Tax collections.

[KamaAina]

2. That is them.

The amazing thing is that the house of cards stood as long as it did, because new people kept pouring into the state. Now that we're maturing, the whole thing is approaching collapse.

[Wellstone ruled]

3. Friends in Placer County just sold their Parents Home,

Prop 13 taxes were around 500 dollars as of last fall. New owners are looking at 6k plus. And that area is still trying to make a economic come back. Do not know how folks are making it.

[MisterP]

4. the take-HSR-to-fund-water won't be on the ballot evidently

there's a backlash brewing whenever 2-3 shitheads with too much money block infrastructure

[mackerel]

5. That tunnel plan of Brown's will detroy the Delta waterways.