Inland Empire Taxpayers Association supports Measure D

The Inland Empire Taxpayers Association urges you to vote YES on Measure D because it speaks to our core values and the core values of this county’s good, honest, hardworking people. It will write the toughest taxpayer protections in the state into our county charter, which Sacramento politicians and interest groups won’t be able to change.

At its heart, passing Measure D will severely restrict the ability of the San Bernardino County government to raise taxes. Right now, voters don’t have much say in most proposed county tax increases, and it only takes three of five county supervisors to pass a tax increase. That doesn’t let me sleep well at night. Yes, this current Board of Supervisors is anti-tax mainly, but that could change in a single election, with new pro-tax politicians grabbing power. Measure D will make new taxes much more difficult to pass regardless of who is in office.

Measure D will require a supermajority — four of five county supervisors — to propose any tax. And if a tax proposal makes it past that hurdle, under Measure D, voters will have the opportunity at the ballot box to approve or reject that tax proposal.

These are protections real taxpayer advocates have wanted for decades. Voting YES on Measure D is our chance to make it a reality. There are great reasons to pass Measure D and make San Bernardino County the toughest place to raise taxes in California:

•  When the economy takes a turn for the worst, the middle class pays the price, especially in places like San Bernardino County, where we’re proud of our collective work ethic. With gasoline needed for long drives to work and food costs rising, we can’t afford new taxes, especially with residents from wealthy coastal cities fleeing their self-created troubles for places like our county and bringing their pro-tax attitudes with them.
• Businesses want stability, especially in terms of operating costs. That means more jobs and greater opportunity for economic prosperity. Taxes are often the biggest wildcard. Knowing that San Bernardino County has passed Measure D and made it virtually impossible to hike taxes will draw even more businesses to our county.

Additionally, Measure D will change current law and restrict sitting county supervisors from giving themselves raises during their current term. Anyone who tells you otherwise needs to read the current county charter.

Folks, it’s simple: a tax protection is a tax protection, and Measure D delivers, no matter how much Sacramento interest groups try to distract you from the facts. San Bernardino County will benefit when we make it more difficult for politicians to propose tax increases and ensure voters have the final say in tax matters. That’s exactly what Measure D will do. If we care about our economy, the ability of small businesses to succeed, and the ability of those struggling to make ends meet, then we need to pass Measure D.

That’s why the citizens’ group I lead, the Inland Empire Taxpayers Association, supports it. Measure D will protect your money and help keep it safe from taxes. Whether by mail or at the polls, vote for taxpayer protection and vote YES on Measure D.

Larry Smith is president of the Inland Empire Taxpayer Association.