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MEASURE AA SAN FRANCISCO BAY RESTORATION AUTHORITY San MEASURE AA and the status of projects funded under the Measure. SAN FRANCISCO BAY RESTORATION These annual audits and reports would be submitted to an AUTHORITY Independent Citizens Oversight Committee for review, with the committee's findings posted on the Authority's website. San Francisco Bay Clean Water, Pollution Prevention and Habitat Restoration Program. The parcel tax would appear as a separate item on residents' property tax bills and would be collected by tax To protect San Francisco Bay for future generations by collectors at the same time as and in the same manner as reducing trash, pollution and harmful toxins, improving other property taxes. water quality, restoring habitat for fish, birds and wildlife, protecting communities from floods, and increasing A "yes" vote is a vote to approve a parcel tax of $12 per shoreline public access, shall the San Francisco Bay parcel on taxable parcels within the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority authorize a parcel tax of $12 per Area for a period of 20 years to fund San Francisco Bay year, raising approximately $25 million annually for twenty restoration projects. years with independent citizen oversight, audits, and all A "no" vote is a vote not to approve a parcel tax of $12 funds staying local? per parcel on taxable parcels within the San Francisco Bay Area for a period of 20 years to fund San Francisco Bay IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF restoration projects. MEASURE AA By: The San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority was created Kenneth K. Moy by the State of California to fund projects to protect and Counsel to the San Francisco Bay restore the San Francisco Bay. The Authority does not Restoration Authority receive any dedicated local, state or federal funding to underwrite such shoreline projects. Reviewed and revised by Orry P. Korb, County Counsel The Authority has placed on the ballot Measure AA, for the County of Santa Clara which if approved by two-thirds of the voters voting on the Measure, would assess a special parcel tax of $12 per year on each parcel of taxable real property wholly or partially within its jurisdiction, the San Francisco Bay Area comprising the Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma and the City and County of San Francisco. The parcel tax would be assessed for a period of 20 years, from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2037. According to the Measure, the parcel tax would raise approximately $25 million annually. According to the Measure, proceeds would be used to fund shoreline projects to protect and restore San Francisco Bay for future generations by (1) reducing trash, pollution and harmful toxins; (2) improving water quality; (3) improving habitat for fish, birds and wildlife; (4) protecting communities from floods; and (5) increasing shoreline access for public enjoyment. Projects would be prioritized based on criteria set forth in the Measure, including but not limited to, their positive impact on the San Francisco Bay as a whole, in terms of clean water, wildlife habitat, beneficial use to the residents, and ensuring projects are funded in each of the San Francisco Bay Area's nine counties. The Measure ensures allocation of 50% of the funds to the North Bay, East Bay, South Bay, and West Bay proportional to their populations, with the remaining 50% allocated to projects within the jurisdiction without regard to location. Proceeds from the parcel tax would be used solely for the programs set forth in the Measure, would be deposited in a separate account, would be spent exclusively for projects in the nine counties comprising the Authority, and could not be taken by the State, with total administrative expenditures limited to no more than 5% of the Measure's proceeds. An independent, annual audit would be conducted of all proceeds and expenditures, and an annual report would be published detailing the amounts deposited and expended CC-9012-X1 ARGUMENT IN FAVOR ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE AA MEASURE AA Join Senator Dianne Feinstein and environmental, Preserving the Bay and ensuring clean water are important; business and community leaders from across Contra so are honesty and accountability. Measure AA is more Costa County in voting YES on Measure AA for a clean about filling politicians’ pockets than it is about helping the and healthy San Francisco Bay. This measure is critical environment. to restoring wetlands and protecting wildlife habitat for future generations throughout the Bay Area. Renters, homeowners and small business owners OPPOSE Measure AA because: San Francisco Bay is a part of all of our lives – whether we live along the Bay; work there; walk, jog, or visit parks • Measure AA doesn’t nail down how money will along its shores; or simply appreciate it as we drive over a be spent. In fact, Section 5.A. says the Authority bridge. The Bay also attracts tourists, supports commercial Board can “amend this measure by majority vote.” fishing and attracts quality employers to the region – all of This is like TAXPAYERS WRITING A BLANK which help keep our economy strong. CHECK. • Measure AA ensures POLITICS, NOT SCIENCE, But pollution and other problems have put the health of the DRIVES DECISIONS. There is no requirement for Bay at serious risk. Fish in the Bay are contaminated with a scientific advisory board to evaluate proposed harmful chemicals like PCBs, mercury and pesticides. projects or assess project accomplishments. Measure AA will restore wetlands throughout the Bay Grants will be based on politics instead of objective Area, which provide habitat for fish and wildlife and filter priorities. out pollutants from water to reduce toxins that threaten the • Measure AA is giving money to politicians that it ecosystem. Wetlands also act as a natural barrier against TAKES FROM THE POOR. Google, Facebook flooding and provide urban recreational open space, a and Apple Computer would pay the same tax as resource we all cherish. the owner of a one-bedroom condominium. • High property taxes DRIVE UP HOUSING COSTS Voting YES on AA will: FOR RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS. Many • Reduce trash, pollution and harmful toxins in the people are unemployed, underemployed, or Bay financially stretched and CANNOT AFFORD TO • Improve water quality PAY MORE. • Restore habitat for fish, birds and wildlife • • Protect communities from floods If this tax passes, politicians will ask for more -- but • Increase shoreline public access they DON’T WANT THE PUBLIC HAVING A SAY in how their money is spent. Measure AA includes important fiscal accountability Our environment needs help, and we need to speak up for protections: it. We need to speak up for ourselves. • All funds must stay in the Bay Area to be used only on local habitat restoration and wildlife protection Measure AA doesn't help -- it's a sham. Demand projects accountability from politicians and VOTE NO! • An independent citizens’ oversight committee will oversee funds to ensure they are spent properly CONTRA COSTA TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION • Independent audits and annual public reports Jack Weir, President, Contra Costa Taxpayers Association ensure transparency Passing this critical measure will ensure that our children and grandchildren inherit a clean and healthy San Francisco Bay. Join us—vote YES on AA to protect San Francisco Bay, our greatest natural treasure. www.yesonaaforthebay.com Steve Glazer, Senator Tony Thurmond, Assemblymember John Gioia, Contra Costa County Supervisor David Lewis, Executive Director, Save the Bay Ron Brown, Retired Executive Director, Save Mount Diablo CC-9012-X2 REBUTTAL TO THE ARGUMENT IN FAVOR REBUTTAL TO THE ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE AA MEASURE AA We value clean water and a healthy environment, so we The argument against Measure AA relies upon need to demand genuine protection for them. Measure misinformation. We’ve researched the facts: AA represents a lot of money, but very little will go to the wetlands. The real goal of Measure AA is to raise a lot of Measure AA includes a detailed, equitable allocation money for politicians to spend any way they want. formula that ensures Contra Costa County will benefit. Half of Measure AA funds will be dedicated geographically, with Residents oppose Measure AA because: $90 million guaranteed to the East Bay. The other half will GIVES A BLANK CHECK TO POLITICIANS. be distributed on a competitive basis throughout the Bay • There’s no spending plan, only “example” Area. projects. • No one really knows how money would be spent. Measure AA requires that all projects competing for funding • Measure AA gives politicians power to change the must demonstrate they provide solid benefits in one of law, to spend money however they decide. four program areas: Safe, Clean Water and Pollution Prevention; Fish, Bird and Wildlife Habitat; Integrated Flood TRUE COSTS ARE HIDDEN. Protection; or Shoreline Public Access. Every dollar will be • The Authority plans to issue $1.5 billion in debt, to spent making San Francisco Bay cleaner and healthier. be added to our tax bills. • Repaying this debt, with interest, would cost our The baseline funding commitment of $1 per month that children and grandchildren up to $3 BILLION. Measure AA levies on all parcels represents the minimum FUNDS COULD GET TIED UP INDEFINITELY. we all can do to ensure the shared benefits of a clean • Wetlands restoration requires coordination and healthy bay are preserved for our children and among many agencies. grandchildren. • The San Francisco Bay is a jungle of jurisdictions and regulations. This proposal is rooted deeply in environmental science. • Currently there is no plan to efficiently coordinate Measure AA’s wetlands restoration goals are based on efforts among federal, state and local agencies. scientific studies (baylandsgoals.org). Bay scientists and • Reform must come first. wetlands engineers on the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority's Advisory Committee and Governing Board and WETLAND RESTORATION INCREASES FLOOD preeminent scientific organizations – like the Bay Institute RISKS.
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