Editor,
Recent articles discuss new San Mateo sales taxes, to close structural deficits and fund services. Like all government agencies, the city does not “live within its means. It only knows how to extract more funds from already overburdened citizens. In the real world, the city would have to reduce costs.
Suggestions:
1). The 2023 city manager’s salary was $338,000 with COLA adjustments, $18,000/year pension contribution, car allowance and fully paid health and life insurance. This is for a city of 100,000 people. On a per-capita basis, the city manager of San Francisco would earn $2.1 million. I suggest a 10% pay reduction as part of his commitment to “public service” for him and all employees earning over $200,000 per year, exempting police and firefighters.
2). There are currently around 1,000 city employees, a 10% increase since 2022. This includes 350 in the Parks and Recreation Department and four expensive attorneys. Employee pay has risen 14% in two years. City population growth has been flat. I suggest a 10% staff reduction in all departments. This would save $10 million/year and almost eliminate the current deficit
3). Eliminate all consulting contracts. Have the city employees do the jobs for which they were hired and if they cannot do it without outside help, replace them with someone who can.
These proposed tax increases would result in sales tax over 10%. Spend $1000 in San Mateo and you will spend $1,100. Buy a $50,000 car and it will cost $55,000.
It is past time to vote no on all tax increases and force the City Council to do its job as a responsible steward of taxpayer money, not a bureaucracy with an insatiable appetite for our money.
Michael Grubb
San Mateo
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(2) comments
Well written, Mr. Grubb, I agree we should vote NO on all tax increases as well as implement your suggestions. Although I’d aim for higher reductions. Unfortunately, as history has shown, fear mongering from the city has been effective in fooling voters to vote yes on tax increases. Voters get the government they deserve. Fortunately, some have the means to leave the state for a fiscally managed state. Even if we’re just multi-millionaires and not billionaires. That saved 10% from state taxes adds up quickly.
Too many straws in the bowl. We need a statewide initiative to cap sales taxes. Personally, I would put that at 10%.
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