It is difficult to envision a more troublesome public venture than trying to convince someone to do something you won’t name. Imagine if this was a bill to provide funding to the Parkway yet the Parkway wasn’t named.
A strange way to take care of the public’s business.
An excerpt.
'Arena' missing in arena measure
If voters OK tax hike, the ballot language may spark a test case.
By Mary Lynne Vellinga and Terri Hardy -- Bee Staff Writers Published 12:01 am PDT Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Sacramento city and county leaders are racing to nail down final details on an agreement with the Sacramento Kings for public financing of a new arena.
But the questions they put before voters in November will offer none of those myriad specifics. The ballot measure calling for a quarter-cent sales tax boost won't mention an arena. A companion advisory measure will ask in vague terms whether voters want to spend the money on an arena and various community projects.
Indeed, the county's entire strategy hinges on being as nonspecific on the ballot as possible. By design, the county is trying to make promises without specific language on the ballot to enforce them, thus avoiding a requirement that taxes destined for clear-cut purposes pass by a two-thirds rather than majority vote.
Is the approach legal? If voters approve the arena funding plan in November, it will likely emerge as a test case.
Opponents say the strategy is an attempt to dodge the two-thirds requirement. They promise a court challenge.
"It is very likely that if this moves forward, we will be filing suits," said Kris Vosburgh, executive director of the statewide Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
Even proponents acknowledge that the county may be venturing onto unknown legal territory.
"I believe we're on solid legal ground here, but it hasn't been tested," said Sacramento County Counsel Bob Ryan.
Supervisors today are expected to vote to place the complicated "A-plus-B" financing plan for the arena on the November ballot. It was carefully crafted to avoid California's requirement that taxes for specific purposes win by a two-thirds margin.
