San Clemente’s Problem Isn’t 218
* I take issue with officials of the city of San Clemente who are reportedly saying that their city’s $2.8-million budget shortfall “was created by the passage of Proposition 218” (Feb. 27).
In reality, the blame for San Clemente’s budget shortfall rests squarely on the shoulders of its own City Council, which imposed an illegal Lighting and Landscape Assessment District when it failed to hold an election on the assessment district consistent with the requirement of Proposition 62 of majority voter approval for any tax that provides revenue to a general fund.
The best way for San Clemente to help resolve its budget conundrum is to empower its citizens to vote on the assessment district.
That’s what Howard Jarvis had in mind when he wrote Propositions 13 and 62, and what the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. reinforced with Proposition 218.
If the people support the assessment, the budget will not have a shortfall.
If they oppose the assessment, the council will have clear direction that the people want them to cut spending.
JAMES LACY
Dana Point
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