Quote: "If it doesn't have to do with Parks and Recreation, the CSD has no power to tax for it.
If it doesn't have to do with Waste Water (Sewer, if and when mandated), the CSD has no power to deal with it.
If it's not Street Lights, it's not the CSD.
If it doesn't deal with Trash, the CSD can't impose taxes or fees.
I think that list is complete. Just those four topics."
Because we are such a backwater to both SB and LA county seats of power, we never would haves seen even a PROPOSAL to increase our taxes for any of these things. In March, we were told we were simply voting for "local control" of existing money. Now we see that we voted in a brand new taxing authority, yay! If it hasn't happened yet, some significant buyer's remorse will set in soon. The CSD is probably here to stay, but voters approving monies for improvements is very much in doubt.
It's always good to cite the quote so the author knows he's been quoted.
I'm not pro-CSD, I'm not against the CSD, but we do need a realistic idea of what it is when we discuss it. We should have had a realistic idea of what it is when we went to the polls.
I grew up in a family where small local agencies and their funding was a constant discussion. In our home, it was schools.
Proposition 13 put a huge cap on what districts could do, setting a limit in California of 1% of the assessed value, and a 2% increase per year.
An organization like the CSD can't raise taxes above that limit, and since SBC and LAC (and every other county in California) is already at or above the limit, the only way to raise taxes is by a 2/3rds vote of the registered voters.
Fees are a separate issue.
In theory, our Drivers' License fees pay for the DMV to issue drivers' licenses. If it's a fee, it's not supposed to raise more than it costs to provide the service.
One thing we should be able to see once the CSD financials are available, is how much is collected in dump fees, and how much is then billed by the County for trash services. I don't have a problem for example if we're paying for trash collection during the upcoming car show, or Mountaineer days. I wouldn't mind if some of the "snow play" trash gets picked up using that money.
So, I'd have to disagree that we've voted a new taxing authority per-se. We certainly have an organization that can levy fees, and there is a legal difference between a tax and a fee.
We also have a local meeting where we can find out about any proposed new fees, and at least two mechanisms to block new fees, and a set of Board Members that we can vote out.
Dump cards for L.A. County Wrightwood Residents was part of the proposal when we voted on the CSD.
