We Need Measure M

Santa Barbara County is faced with a $197 million deferred infrastructure maintenance problem, $83 million buildings + $114 million roads, bridges, etc., created by our supervisors, with the exception of Supervisor Adams, who are presently playing the “Chicken Little card” with respect to Measure M. They claim,: “It will take away $40 million a year from our budget, it will take away from public services, It will be disastrous as to police and fire services, It will increase public employee cost and public employee benefits costs, taxes will have to be increased.”

What is the actual factual evidence, as opposed to speculation, opinion, and conjecture to support the $40 million claim? ($40 million is 5 percent of the $828 million 2013-2014 budget) Could not the alleged $40 million be taken from the $200 million 2013-2014 discretionary budget?

The real issue is how and why the supervisors created the deferred infrastructure maintenance problem. A Grand Jury determination is needed. Many citizens believe the supervisors should be removed from office on the grounds of incompetence and/or misfeasance. Have they failed in their duties to our citizens? What say you Citizens? Vote for Measure M to stop the uncontrolled growth of deferred infrastructure maintenance, and its growing debt, that it imposes upon our citizens. Take back citizen control.