On October 2, I received an email requesting answers to citizen questions regarding J-20, a local ballot measure for a small sales tax increase. As an elected official, I am not allowed to campaign for or against this ballot measure, therefore I will not advocate for any position on J-20. To maintain transparency and accountability, however, I believe it is my responsibility to respond to these questions. Below, you will find the original request and a video I have produced on my own time, at my own expense. As always, I am open to your responses and suggestions.
Stay informed, stay involved, stay strong, Paso Robles!
Received Oct. 2, 2020:
Mayor Martin, thank you for the willingness to help us help our city.
Here are the key points our members(5000+ Paso voters) are asking us about:
- We have been told that the FIRST 4 years (2021-2024) 100% of this proposed J-20 tax measure funding would go directly to our first responders(PD & FD). So the question we need you to answer SPECIFICALLY is this, Will all of the estimated $10 million revenue raised by Measure J-20 during the first 4 years(estimated $40 million), in fact go entirely to PD & FD until the current tax measure funding, that allocates $5mil to roads, sunsets in 2024? Then after the sunset of the current tax in 2024, is that when we would see the proposed allocation of approximately $5mil for roads, $4mil for FD and $2mil for PD?
- Explain in detail what the passing of J-20 will mean to the citizens of Paso Robles. Why do we need this funding for our PD & FD? Why do we need to add an estimated $5mil to our current roads budget?
- We have seen where you have found an estimated $7mil in the current budget that we can save, Have you (city council and city manager) looked at more less important spending that we can recover and redistribute in a more effective way?
- Lastly, the LARGEST concern or complaint we keep hearing, like a broken record from your constituents, is the serious lack of trust. Now it is easy to brush that off as people just being people and you won’t make everyone happy, but surely you understand that this is one of the MOST important tools our city council has to gain leverage for ANYTHING you ask the citizens to do. If we are always feeling like we are being “lied” to, then your word is now gone. Can you offer any solutions to help bridge the gap we are having in trust between the city council and your constituents? How will you offer a more transparent way of getting information to your constituents moving forward?
- We understand there will be an oversight committee, How will that committee be compiled? Will it include completely unbiased individuals that can objectively raise concerns and push back when necessary without fear of scrutiny? And how will those committee members be chosen?
Thank you in advance for your willingness to help us help our city by getting answers to some tough questions. We strongly believe that the passing of this Measure J-20 HEAVILY relies on how these question are answered. Please compile the answers in your video and get that to us ASAP.
Again, thank you for what you do for our city and we will continue to commit ourselves to be that voice of hope for our great city!!
Paso Proud
Brad Daugherty, CFO
PRotect Paso Foundation
805-610-5114
brad@protectpaso.org