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Kern County Taxpayers Association
331 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield Ca 93301
Phone:661-322-2973
Fax:661-321-9550 |
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WHAT IS KERNTAX?
KERNTAX IS THE COUNTY’S LEADER ON MANY TAXPAYER ISSUES, SUCH AS:
* PROPERTY AND DEVEVOPMENT RIGHTS
* LOCAL TAXES AND REGULATIONS
* SCHOOL BONDS
* FEE-SUPPORTED VS. TAX-SUPPORTED GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES
* STATEWIDE TAX EQUITY FOR KERN COUNTY
* LOCAL SALES TAX FOR TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS
* ANALYSIS OF COUNTY, CITY AND SPECIAL DISTRICT TAXES/FEES
* GOVERNMENT FUNDED HEALTHCARE ISSUES, LIKE KERN MEDICAL CENTER
KERNTAX IS AGGRESSIVE! WE OPPOSE BAD TAXES AND FEES, BUT WE SUPPORT TAXES AND TAX-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS THAT ARE FAIR, UNDERSTANDABLE, COST EFFECTIVE AND GOOD FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF KERN COUNTY. KERNTAX MEMBERS RECEIVE ANALYSIS OF TAX AND SPENDING PROPOSALS, ARE REPRESENTED IN THE PUBLIC ARENA, AND HAVE A CLEAR VOICE IN PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES. KERNTAXS DOES MORE, ON A LIMITED BUDGET, THAN ANY OTHER PUBLIC POLICY ORGANIZATION IN KERN COUNTY.
CURRENTLY, THE KERNTAX BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS 25 MEMBERS:
FIVE DIRECTORS ARE FROM THE OIL INDUSTRY.
FOUR DIRECTORS ARE FROM THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.
FOUR DIRECTORS ARE FROM NON-PROFIT/EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
THREE DIRECTORS ARE FROM PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
TWO DIRECTORS REPRESENT THE REAL ESTATE/BUILDING INDUSTRIES.
TWO DIRECTORS ARE FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INDUSTRY
ONE DIRECTOR IS FROM THE ENERGY SECTOR.
ONE DIRECTOR IS FROM THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY
ONE DIRECTOR IS FROM THE RETAIL SECTOR.
ONE DIRECTOR IS FROM TECHNOLOLOY.
ONE DIRECTOR REPRESENTS INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS.
KERNTAX DEVELOPS ALL OF ITS POSITIONS USING THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES AND CRITERIA:
FAIRNESS. A good tax distributes the burden evenly, provides services that are useful to the general public, and is levied only to pay for needed services. A bad tax splits the tax roll into high-payers and low-payers, is levied to give services to a few, and is used as an instrument of social policy.
UNDERSTANDIBILITY. A good tax is visible, levied and spent by the jurisdiction closest to the voters, would be approved by the voters for generally desired services, and is identifiable with the services it provides. A bad tax is hidden as a fee or assessment, is levied by a remote level of government, is spent on services of least local value, would be rejected by voters, and is swept into a general fund where its use cannot be tracked.
EFFECTIVENESS/EFFICIENCY. A good tax pays only for the few services that can be best provided by government and supports efficient, useful governmental programs. A bad tax pays for services that could be effectively provided by the private sector and is wasted on programs of minimal value.
BENEFIT FOR THE ECONOMY. A good tax pays for services that encourage growth of the private sector, is levied on consumption, and encourages capital formation. A bad tax discourages business development and is levied on production, savings, or investment.
FISCALLY RESPONSIBILITY. All monies from the public treasury must be spent in a way that is legally accountable. All government agencies must be answerable for obligations it creates.
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY. Economy means frugality, the prudent expenditure of money or use of resources to meet basic government obligations. Sustainable is the ability to bear, maintain or support an obligation over time.
SOCIETAL EQUITABLENESS. Equitable actions are fair to all concerned, without prejudice, favor, or rigor entailing undue hardship.
KERN COUNTY TAXPAYERS' BILL OF RIGHTS
1. Kern County taxpayers have a right to government that does not grow beyond its ability to pay for itself.
2. Kern County taxpayers have a right to get back every single dollar they entrust to government for services in services.
3. Kern County taxpayers have a right to expect government to balance its budgets and provided promised services without having their taxes and fees raised.
4. Kern County taxpayers have a right to fair taxes and fees that they can understand.
WHY JOIN KERNTAX?
OUR PRESENCE AND PARTICIPATION…
• OVERSIGHT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCES
• ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC MEETINGS
• MEMBERSHIP ON ADVISORY COMMITTEES
• INPUT ON FISCAL DECISIONS
• ACTION ON TAX PROBLEMS
OUR ANALYSIS AND INFORMATION…
• REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT BUDGETS
• ALERTS ON TAX THREATS
• ADVISE ON BALLOT ISSUES
• ANALYSIS OF LEGISLATION AND FISCAL LITIGATION
• ROAD MAPS THROUGH BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE
• INSIGHT ON PUBLIC POLICY
OUR ACCESS AND COMMUNICATION…
• LINKAGE WITH OTHER TAXPAYERS
• ATTENTION FROM DECISION MAKERS
• MEDIA CONTACTS
• A FULL-TIME, ON-CALL SPOKESPERSON
OUR SUPPORT OF…
• FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS
• ELIMINATION OF GOVERNMENT REDUNDANCY
• ENDING THE STATE’S PROPERTY TAX TAKEAWAY
• A TWO-THIRDS VOTE FOR ALL TAX INCREASES
• PRIVATIZATION WHENEVER FEASIBLE
• CITIZEN DISCLOSURE OF TAXING AND SPENDING PLANS
• MAXIMUM UTILIZATION OF CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS
OUR OPPOSITION TO…
• CIRCUMVENTION OF PROPOSITION 13
• UTILITY USER TAXES
• SPLIT ROLL PROPERTY TAXATION
• EXCESSIVE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND BENEFITS
• DISGUSING TAXES AS ASSESSMENTS AND FEES
• WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN KERN COUNTY...
GIVE THE KERN COUNTY TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION A CALL AT 661-322-2973.
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