Meg & Tom Stallard are initiating a PBID on downtown
property owners. Prop 218 can be used for a “PBID”,
assessment on your tax bill. Normally we choose membership
in an organization, we are not forced. The PBID is a VOTE by
property owners based on square footage. Residential is not
taxed. District formation requires submittal of petitions from
property owners representing more than 50% of the total
annual assessment and a favorable ballot vote of the property
owners conducted by the City. " Form the engineers report,
they claim it si not a tax yet, "The Right to Vote on Taxes Act
(also known as Proposition 218) requires that more than 50%
of the ballots received, weighted by assessment, be in support
of the District. There will also be City Council hearings."
Owners with the most property can vote to Assess/TAX the
rest of us & this "commite" will control the money, over
$200,000 a year!
property owners. Prop 218 can be used for a “PBID”,
assessment on your tax bill. Normally we choose membership
in an organization, we are not forced. The PBID is a VOTE by
property owners based on square footage. Residential is not
taxed. District formation requires submittal of petitions from
property owners representing more than 50% of the total
annual assessment and a favorable ballot vote of the property
owners conducted by the City. " Form the engineers report,
they claim it si not a tax yet, "The Right to Vote on Taxes Act
(also known as Proposition 218) requires that more than 50%
of the ballots received, weighted by assessment, be in support
of the District. There will also be City Council hearings."
Owners with the most property can vote to Assess/TAX the
rest of us & this "commite" will control the money, over
$200,000 a year!
Property Owners – Said NO TO THE DOWNTOWN PBID! 7/31/07
| * Some Properties will see a 50% increase or more on their tax bills * At a PBID Meeting Meg Stallard said she could not recall the names of her committee. * The City Council has given Meg over $50,000 to study this. * The chamber voted to support the PBID, maybe they would like to pay our tax bills! Upset? Call City Council: Mayor Dave Flory - 666-7299 Skip Davies - 662-4892, Pinmental - 662-6720 Bill Marble - 666-5493 Jeff Monroe - 681-8504, |
| My Story I own Tack Warehouse at 917 Main St. I started selling out of the back of my car. In 1999, the City of Woodland re-development department helped me negotiate for this building as I was renting. I bought it and fixed it up. I have a hair salon next door. My bill is $1,700 and I can't afford this increase. Sales are down, freight is up and fuel prices are taking a toll, combined with alarm fee increases, permit increases, water rates tripling etc.. I would have to pass on the cost of this to my tenants and they are just getting by and can't afford it. We will loose our property if we can not pay the bill. My example of this is type of PBID is: there are 4 houses on a block. The biggest one decides they want a new garage and force a vote on the other 3. Because the big house has more land then the others, they win and the others have to pay $2,000 a year for the big houses garage. I guess it is legal, not right - here in America. The reasons I feel this PBID is unfair, are: It is based on the ground floor elevation, so people like Tom and Meg Stallard that have 3 story buildings with basements rented for premium dollars only have to pay for the first floor. They have many tenants and the cost will be a nominal offset for them. I do not have tenants on all floors to offset the cost of this. Also, the parking lots are assessed at the same rate as retail rented space. I also feel this could be a land grab attempt by the "developers", to force land owners with lots that are un-improved or those with less financial stability to have to sell their property or lose it by tax lien. So Bob Gilette / David from Rainbow Auto Sales is looking at a $7,200 assessment and has a dirt parking lot. You are not going to rent it for that, so how many of will be forced to sell? The developers have been on him to sell this lot and he has not been willing. A lot of the small business like card stores, antique stores are feeling the financial crunch from Wal Mart and gas prices. Sales are SLOW & Costco is coming and will be a major financial hit for some! We have had our water rates tripled, the police alarm permit increased, taxes increased, Garbage, PGE increase etc... This figures into our bottom line, and there is not much left. People are hanging on by a shoe string. My buildings assessment is for $1700. My property taxes are $3000 a year. This is a 50% increase! What happened to Prop 13? Whoever the committee is will control the money it is estimated at $200,000 + a year and will increase annually. For 5 Years and then can be voted on again. They have no budget, and have a cost built in for the increase. The city council can vote this in and they have major land. They are supposed to represent us and should not have a controlling vote. FACT: Fact: The mailing list used to send out the assessment ballot was old and did not include current property owners Fact: No information is provided on the cities website. No dates for the meetings are on the cities website, even though other meetings are listed. Fact: Meg Stallard has been given $50,000 to study this, anyone get invited to any meetings, receive the budget package etc? I did not. Fact: Many Hispanic business owners claim to not have received the ballot. Fact the City Council told Meg Stallard she could not bring it forward until she had 50% support from property owners, excluding the city. She brought it forward to them and included the cities vote to get the 50% support. Fact: Mayor Dave Flory supports this Un-democratic Assessment Fact: This will come on your property tax bill. If you do not or cannot afford to pay it, you will loose your property. Fact : This can be voted in for over 173 property owners by 8 major land holders. Fact: The City will be the deciding vote. This was an underhanded process by the City Council and Meg Stallard, I was at the meeting when the CIty council told Meg to have at least 50% of the property owners support. She came back and it was put through with only 33% and they included the 18% City & 2% county vote. The City Council voted for it at that point. If it is used for a parking area, the developers supporting this can use this as an argument for variances to avoid having to provide their on site parking. Supporters- Meg Stallard , Tom Stallard have received close to $50,000 money from the city to promote and study this little tax. Paul Petrovich- Sacramento Developer bought the Hoblit Haynes 3rd and Main, Corner of East & Main where the Shell gas station was and is a major vote. Fact: It is a 5 year assessment. With a 3% annual increase. Fact: The City sent out the Assessment ballot votes un-certified, to wrong addresses and not in Spanish. Fact: City Staff Re-development Cyntia Shallot is going around to business, illegally, and soliciting votes by promising light for certain buildings etc... This is still considered a bride! She is also the go to person on this by the city and is coincidentally out of town until July 21st . Fact: City Staff told me to contact Meg Stallard As Cynthia Shallot was out of town regarding questions about this. Fact: Cyntia Shallits voice mail would not take messages and said she was out of town as of 7/26/07. People say its been that way for a week or so. Fact: City Staff could not answer what to do about the property owners that did not receive their ballots. As Cyntia Shallot was out of town persons were told to call Meg Stallard who is also out of town. Fact: They have no real budget Fact: If you voted yes, it's not to late to change your vote Have any of you gotten any benefit from the city for the downtown in the past? Do you really think they are here to help us, or tax us? Do you think they can market your business? Is it fair that large landowners can tax the rest of us? Is it fair a non-elected group will control over $200,000 a year, and we can loose our property by lien if we do not pay this forced assessment? What happens if they want more money? Can they just vote it on in? What happens if the Chamber does this as well, will we have to pay another tax? Links : http://www.hjta.org/proposition218 info on Prop 218 Link Woodland City Council Website Meeting List Link: Copy I took on 7/20/07 of cities meeting list If you have comments: e-mail me brendacedarblade@yahoo.com |
Is it fair that 8 property owners can vote it in an assessment/tax for 173+ other property owners?
The City Council & Stallard's using Prop 218 against its original intent to protect voters rights, aginst the smaller property owners for
a PBID- Shows our government has deviated from a democracy of voters, but a money grab for the devious few. While legal, this is
Un-Democratic & Un American. This measure shows we can be taxed without a fair process. Through this measure property owners
that can not withstand an increase in their taxes, risk loosing their property because they can not afford the assessment cost.
The worst part of this is the City Council also controls a majority of land where the fire departments, city hall etc are located. They get
to vote. I thought they were supposed to represent the people. The majority of property owners do not support the PBID. Our
properties are already taxed for services.
The assessment lines were drawn and constructed by Tom and Meg Stallard, I feel to ensure this vote passes. The city and county
control over 18% of the vote and other major property holders will be the decision maker for this tax on the majority of property
owners. This number is even greater considering they mailed ballots to properties that had changed owners or had wrong addresses.
Property owners with the largest amount of land can force a financial burden on the majority of small land owners. Multi Level
buildings with tenant, like the Stallard's are only taxed on base floor and they have the most to gain. Parking lot owners are taxed the
heaviest with the least ability for return and the least to benefit. The "committee", not the city will control the money.
Legal, Yes- but UN-AMERICAN!
a PBID- Shows our government has deviated from a democracy of voters, but a money grab for the devious few. While legal, this is
Un-Democratic & Un American. This measure shows we can be taxed without a fair process. Through this measure property owners
that can not withstand an increase in their taxes, risk loosing their property because they can not afford the assessment cost.
The worst part of this is the City Council also controls a majority of land where the fire departments, city hall etc are located. They get
to vote. I thought they were supposed to represent the people. The majority of property owners do not support the PBID. Our
properties are already taxed for services.
The assessment lines were drawn and constructed by Tom and Meg Stallard, I feel to ensure this vote passes. The city and county
control over 18% of the vote and other major property holders will be the decision maker for this tax on the majority of property
owners. This number is even greater considering they mailed ballots to properties that had changed owners or had wrong addresses.
Property owners with the largest amount of land can force a financial burden on the majority of small land owners. Multi Level
buildings with tenant, like the Stallard's are only taxed on base floor and they have the most to gain. Parking lot owners are taxed the
heaviest with the least ability for return and the least to benefit. The "committee", not the city will control the money.
Legal, Yes- but UN-AMERICAN!