HISTORY

The Sacramento Taxpayers Association has played a major role in community taxpayer issues since its inception in 1961. The association researches tax issues, utility rates, and bond measures, as well as monitors the City and County annual budgets. When the Association has had concerns about local government’s effectiveness, it has written letters to elected officials and local media, and has also testified at public meetings in support of its position on taxpayer-related issues.

The Association is non-profit and non-partisan, and accepts no government funds. It is a diverse group of business, industrial, and professional organizations, as well as independent local citizens concerned with the community and the most effective use of local tax dollars.

Over the years, the Association has made itself well-known to Sacramento communities’ business and political leaders as a strong representative of local taxpayers.

THE ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS

• Fiscal responsibility by elected public officials

• A two-thirds (2/3) vote for tax increases (the heart of proposition 13)

• Privatization

• The Gann Spending Limits

• Independent budget analysis and auditing

• Term Limits for elected official

THE ASSOCIATION OPPOSES

• Circumvention of Proposition 13

• Excessive pensions for public employees

• Excessive permit fees

• Taxes disguised as assessments and fees

PAST COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

During the past decade, the League has been involved in a number of high profile issues, with some very satisfying results. Listed below are just some of the major projects it has participated in:

• 2002 - Won a lawsuit against the County for violation of Proposition 62 (illegally passing a utility tax and hotel tax without voter approval)
• 2004 - Successfully fought attacks on Proposition 13 by stopping Proposition 56, a proposed County utility tax earmarked for 2005.
• 2006 - Had high profile opposition to the attempted SMUD takeover of PG&E services in portions of Yolo County ( Measure “L” ) which would have affected Sacramento ratepayers too.
• 2006 - Fought against measures “Q” and “R,” which were City attempts to increase taxes and then build a new arena. Both “Q” and “R” were resoundingly defeated by voters.
• 2008 - Opposed the Project Labor Agreement at the Railyards, Opposed the City Gang Tax, Opposed High-speed Rail, Criticized the County’s handling of the Library fiasco and the Metro Fire District problems.
• 2009 - Testified against new Cal Expo arena, joined the Delta Water Coalition, supported the Utilities Rate Rollback Initiative.
• 2010 - Continued to serve on five local school Bond Oversight Committees, joined the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Assoc. in a class action lawsuit against the City of Sacramento for violation of use of utility funds, Supported Measure B (City Utilities Rate Rollback), supported local jobs with no labor agreements for the new airport terminal, Opposed Regional Water Control Boards new draft discharge permit (which will cost $2 Billion over ten years), Opposed new ‘Convergence Arena Plan’ at Cal Expo.
• 2011 - Opposed new arena plan (Sports and Entertainment Complex) at the Sacramento Railyards, and it’s unwieldy financial plan, joined with several other statewide taxpayer groups to oppose regional and statewide tax increases.
• 2012 - Continue to monitor attempts to build a new arena. And ready for any other taxpayer battles that come up this year.

COMMUNITY COMMITTEES

In addition, the STA has set up several committees to provide specific levels of expertise on a subject, then to bring back recommendations to the full Board for action steps. Here are the Committee names: