SVTA: Measure A levies a 50% tax hike on tourists. Is it really for essential services?
“Why are police and fire emergency response not in the current San Jose City Budget?” quips Mark Hinkle in Silicon Valley Taxpayer Association’s statement: Measure A’s dubious premise that it’s for “essential” services could end up hurting San Jose tourism.
The City wants to increase the cost of visitors coming to San Jose for business and pleasure.
The ballot statement says: "To fund essential city services including police and fire emergency response...", which begs the question: why aren't police and fire emergency response…in the current San Jose City Budget?
Measure A tax increase would not be needed if the San Jose City Council included police, fire, homeless camps, etc…in the SJ City budget.
If the elected SJ City Council doesn't see it as essential, why should San Jose taxpayers?
Read the whole statement here.
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