NO on the One Percent (1%) Sales Tax Hike

NO $43 Million Gift of Taxpayer Funds for Desert Fashion Plaza Renovation

NO City Subsidized Parking for Desert Fashion Plaza

The Committee for No on Measure J is a grassroots nonpartisan group of Palm Springs residents who believe that citizen monitoring of government affairs is a valued right and an important civic obligation under our form of democracy. As Republicans, Democrats and Independents we share a common belief that local government best serves itself and the community when citizen watchdogs monitor and report on the activities of our officials. The opposition to ballot Measure J movement is one we believe to be representative of the types of activities that best portray the importance of citizen involvement.

The City of Palm Springs is requesting voters approve a twenty-five (25) year one-percent (1%) Sales Tax hike expected to produce $8 million annually. The tax money collected will be placed in the General Fund where it will be available for any approved use. The Committee for No on Measure J opposes the Sales Tax hike for the following reasons.

NO on the One Percent (1%) Sales Tax Hike

The One Percent (1%) Sales Tax hike represents a City of Palm Springs wish list seeking additional revenues for its General Fund. It lacks documentation identifying the exact purposes for which the funds are intended. Palm Springs is a wealthy city. Its current annual budget exceeds $150 million and the General Fund component is $63,840,676 - up over $3 million from the previous year. In ten (10) years that budget (and revenues) has increased forty-four percent (44%). The General Fund pays for infrastructure repairs, police, fire, library, parks, street maintenance, and other operating costs.  No published list of backlogged infrastructure repairs and other needs exists. If there is a backlog in these areas we believe it results from intentional neglect for it is clear that funds have been available to maintain the infrastructure and other city needs. No good reason exists for a Sales Tax hike and certainly not a hike for uses that will not be identified until after voters have cast their ballots.

NO $43 Million Gift of Taxpayer Funds for Desert Fashion Plaza Renovation

The City of Palm Springs has entered into a financing agreement with local developer John Wessman that specifies the city will give $43 million from anticipated Sales Tax hike funds for Desert Fashion Plaza renovation. We oppose any gift of taxpayer funds to private developer! Our view is that gifts of public funds to individuals represent a misuse of taxpayer money and such acts are financially irresponsible.

NO City Subsidized Parking for Desert Fashion Plaza

Desert Fashion Plaza, like all local developments, is required to provide parking facilities for patrons. The thirteen (13) acre plaza currently has 1,061 parking spaces in a combination of above and below ground facilities (in need of renovation). We oppose the agreement to relieve developer John Wessman from all responsibility to provide parking. We also oppose the City of Palm Springs paying for Desert Fashion Plaza parking facilities renovation and maintaining them as City property. The City will incur annual parking maintenance costs amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars – and all for the Desert Fashion Plaza owner’s benefit. We say No to Taxpayer fund subsidies for Desert Fashion Plaza parking.