Local leaders join Merc in oppo to RTM
Johnny Khamis, prez of leading local biz group, aligns with Merc, says transit tax bailout latest in long parade of unaccountable new levies.
Much like the story of the boy who cried wolf, voters are handed another opportunity each election cycle to tax themselves under the threat that services will end, streets will fall into chaos, schools will close, or lives will be lost.
Unfortunately, voters often place an unquestioning trust in government and vote "yes," even though that trust has not been earned. Furthermore, while elected officials and the media claim that the cost of living is a top concern, there is little discussion about how these new taxes further exacerbate that burden.
This dynamic stems from a tendency to solve problems simply by throwing more money at them, rather than holding government accountable. In most cases, agencies have failed to demonstrate fiscal responsibility, and the underlying issues remain unresolved.
Last November’s Measure A 5/8-cent sales tax increase is a clear example. Proponents claimed that without the money, "people would die". Although they stated they were facing a billion-dollar deficit, Measure A provided only $300 million. Yet, tax dollars were somehow found to open a brand-new hospital and expand services at Regional Medical Center.
Similarly, Measure R was presented as a necessity to upgrade aging school campuses. Just a few months after voters passed the $1.2 billion bond measure, five schools were slated for closure.
We continue to raise taxes expecting better results, but without demanding accountability. Now, with the upcoming RTM ballot measure, special interest groups are funding a $7.5 million campaign claiming that failing to pass this new sales tax will lead to "catastrophic service cuts" across Caltrain, BART, and local bus systems.
It is the same "do-or-die" argument once again. How many times can officials cry wolf? How can they decry the rising cost of living while continually increasing taxes and fees? Before passing yet another tax, we should start expecting results and accountability from the revenues we already provide.--Johnny Khamis, president, Silicon Valley Business Alliance
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