Local Views of State Vehicle Fee

* Is reducing the vehicle license fee (VLF) really a tax cut? The proposal to slash the fee is a political ruse to deceive Californians into thinking they are going to save personal tax dollars. But such hocus-pocus politics simply means citizens may save something in one pocket, only to have monies grasped from another.

Currently a major portion of the vehicle registration fee is deductible from one’s federal income tax. If this deduction is not allowed, Californians will end up paying another $800 million to the IRS. California already sends more money to Washington than the Golden State receives in federal programs and grants, making California a “donor” state. To add insult to injury, if a taxpayer loses the federal VLF deduction, he/she would also lose the state deduction--this means Californians would pay an additional $100 million to $200 million to the state!

In the proposed VLF action, the state of California isn’t giving us anything. In fact, it is shortchanging taxpayers by giving away tax dollars that are constitutionally guaranteed to cities to provide police, fire, recreation services, street repair, etc. The state is giving city and county money away. In return, the state will realize more money by the increased income tax. While state lawmakers pretend to be heroes, taxpayers actually will suffer the loss of local services and pay more federal and state income tax.

We applaud efforts to reduce state taxes and to equitably deal with the state’s huge surplus--however, it’s time to go back to the drawing board and find a source that will keep the money in California and will not severely impact local government budgets and services.

LAURANN COOK

Mayor

Fountain Valley

* I am writing to enthusiastically commend Supervisor Todd Spitzer’s resolution backing a vehicle license fee cut (“O.C. Supervisors Give Car Tax Cut a Green Light,” June 10).

This truly goes to show that some of our elected officials are supporting the hard-working constituents in their districts. Once again, Spitzer is exemplary of loyalty where it matters most.

LOUISE HERNANDEZ

Yorba Linda

* The state has a $4-billion surplus, thanks to a robust economy and taxpayers who pay their taxes!

The governor wants to give this money back to the taxpayers in the form of a tax cut in the vehicle license fees. He has repeatedly stated to the public that the vehicular license fee account would be funded by the more than adequate state general fund, thus ensuring the upkeep for our cities. Yet many still choose to decry this proposal, while overlooking the fact that as the law stands now the vehicular license fee is not guaranteed to the cities.

Rather, the governor is taking a step forward by proposing a constitutional amendment that will in fact protect the cities’ funds. Those who are worried about a decline in public programs are mistaken in opposing the governor’s plan which seeks to lawfully protect the cities’ money, while easing consumers’ tax burden.

It is about time that the people question the city bureaucrats who are propagating these unwarranted fears and that city bureaucrats recognize that the governor is trying to implement a change from which all can benefit.

BOB ZEMEL

Council member

City of Anaheim