The supporters and opponents of the Rossmoor cityhood proposal are firing up the email system. The following have been shared with the Press-Telegram:
Neal Woolston writes:
In the Comprehensive Final Analysis (CFA) which was an independent study prepared to
assist us in deciding the feasibility of Rossmoor incorporation we find statements like this:
1- Annual surpluses for each Fund category are not substantial (page 50) *(my underlining)
2-A new city has no historical track record on the cost or level of services required
(page 51)
3-A state budget crises could result in a greater mandated cost for cities AND a reduction
OR transfer of property taxes and State subventions (page 51) * (my caps and underline)
4-Unanticipated expenditures could occur due to major disasters, emergencies, liability
claims, and litigation settlements.(page 51)
5- Changed economic conditions that could result in a decrease in affected General Fund
revenues that are outside the discretionary control of a City Council. (page 51)
6-NO FUNDS have been budgeted for non road-related capital improvement projects.
As the new city grows in staffing and assumes services from the county, the
requirements for facilities, vehicles and other major equipment may be apparent.
(page 51) * Read is apparent, My underline
7-Table 5-A in the appendix depicts the forecast of the General Fund without the Utility
Tax. The city would experience annual operating deficits in F/Y 09/10 and would
exhaust ALL Reserves by F/Y 11/12 without implementation of the Utility Tax.(page 53)
8-It can be concluded that prudent fiscal management will be a necessary component of
maintaining fiscal feasibility in the long term. The lack of ability for future development
growth, in particular sales tax generation establishments which would assist in offsetting
inflationary cost growth, will necessitate a fiscal policy of restraining from providing those
services that are not considered necessary public services. The model indicates that
there is little room for service enhancements above the existing service.
(pages 53 &54) *(My caps and underline)
The CFA is an independent analysis of our current condition to assist in our decision
as to whether city hood is feasible. It's our responsibility to judge whether the
results of the analysis provide enough validity to seriously consider incorporation.
When you see statements as outlined above and words and phrases within the
document like "prudent cost management": "avoid pitfalls that plague many full service
cities"; "do not create a government structure exceeding what can be reasonably
afforded"; it appears the results of the CFA is clear. The analysis seems to me to
conclude that we are on a very on a very thin edge ( a 7% utility tax) and for city
hood to be successful we need an almost "fairy tale" set of circumstances over a long
period of time. In view of the existing fiscal realites in Rossmoor and the conclusions of
the CFA, a vote for cityhood would be irresponible at this time. How can we elect a city
council and ask them to succeed against such overwhelming odds--no matter how well
intentioned.
Maynard A. Banta writes:
The Rossmoor Entity, for the past 50 years, has been home to nearly 10,000 people of good will, now urged without reasonable justification, to vote for Cityhood and the leveling of hefty fees.
I have a brief list of reasons to incorporate per the original petition at the door.
Police Response - Police response is deemed not good enough. According to the Rossmoor Crime Log in the throwaway newspapers, and that's all we have; the response time is excellent. Is there a different conclusion from another source?
The Orange County Complaint - Orange County can't seem to make it on the rates we have paid over the past years and wishes at this time to divest itself of the present level of services. This may stem, as proponents say, "from a bankruptcy". It was not Just a bankruptcy; it was the "largest Municipal Bankruptcy in the history of the United States," according to the News Media. Let's tell it like it is.. The only way for Orange County to withdraw and quit present service levels is through City Incorporation of Rossmoor. If we do not incorporate; services will remain at status quo.
There are other motives but these were the two basic reasons to favor incorporation. The decision to incorporate is up to the voters of Rossmoor, not the bully story of David & Goliath to overwhelm Rossmoor by having nearly four million County Voters swamp the few, now boxed into a corner (see front page Rossmoor Signature News, July 2008 issue). Rossmoor will still vote Yes or No as they see fit.
Affording A City - According to a recent rebuttal letter, we all know the probability; more taxes and higher assessments long after the vote. Hey (with uplifted palms) proponents say, "they taxed themselves.". If the County of Orange is unable to sustain the present level of services with the dollar amounts we are paying; how is it that Rossmoor would be able to sustain even the same level of services; assessments you have not mentioned? Whatever the climbing fees; residents will have to scrape up the difference, no limit. These costs will go on for the rest of our lives and longer. Very few will afford to live here due to cost hikes. Our Utility Companies are, at this moment, asking for increases. In case of Cityhood, Utilities are to be taxed beyond their existing costs. Here's another one for you; do you care to buy license stickers for your car or cars at $59.00 per with a sliding scale? Give me a break.
The documentation of Rossmoor History is presently available to anyone on the Internet as regards attempts at annexation and/or incorporation.
I don't mind turning the other cheek, boys, but we know your "Cityhood Package Deal" waits just around the corner with a club.
Vote NO On Measure U, Incorporation of Rossmoor
Dodie O'Keeffe writes:
I, for one, am tired of being told how inefficient and inept the Orange County Sheriffs Department is when it comes to response times in Rossmoor. Who is this person that knows when a call for help is received, when the deputy is dispatched and then waits around with a stop watch so they can say "Late Again"?
Well, I've got news for you. We have a deputy patrolling Rossmoor 24/7. That's right, our own patrol car, not the deputy who patrols Sunset Beach. The citizens of Rossmoor pay for their own patrol car with their taxes. You may have seen our patrol unit over at Rush Park. I would add during peak hours and shift changes we might have two deputies on patrol at the same time. The Sheriffs Department also has an automatic aid agreement with surrounding cities. Any time something major goes down in Rossmoor, other sheriffs units, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach would provide back up. So lets stop trying to upset everyone with your letters of gloom and doom and know that some of us are not falling for your tactics.
Now the issue of the supposed increase of burglaries. If people would check their statistics, provided by the Orange County Sheriffs Department, they would find there was only one reported burglary in Rossmoor from 08-29-08 to 09-05-08. Several alarms went off, but only one actual burglary. Residential burglaries in Orange County were down in July 2008 by 14 percent, compared to the same time last year. Statistics prove that warm summer nights make people leave windows and doors open for cool air. This fact does not make the burglars any smarter just more observant. An increase of burglaries or any other crime is not limited to Rossmoor so quit trying to scare us into believing your stories as they are unfounded.
It would seem to me that the issue with the Sheriffs Department does not lie with the residents of Rossmoor but with Mr. Moorlach. I believe the fact that he could not get control of their retirement funds when he was county treasurer is a good reason why he continues to find fault with them. You decide. NO ON MEASURE U.
Pat Wells writes:
There seems to be a lot of letters in favor of incorporation that keep telling us to ignore anyone who opposes the incorporation.
The County Supervisor & members of the Committee for incorporation are trying to convince residents that they will have more control of their future. Can we really control how much the new imposed taxes will be? Can we really control the salaries of the City Employees, council members, mayor and any other "officials" needed?
Will the new utility tax pay for these salaries, plus the vehicles needed for these officials? All cities have their own vehicles, which if you have listened to all the news about elected officials using City Vehicles for personal use, you know that our taxes have to pay for that.
The County has not given us any accounting breakdown for why they feel we have cost them about $600,000.00 per year. Would you pay a bill without seeing the breakdown of costs? The county cannot refuse to provide services to Rossmoor. Vote No to incorporation and more taxes. Vote No on Measure U.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
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He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
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