Contracting Measure Loses Anti-Tax Group’s Support

In a surprise move that quickly drew criticism from a conservative lawmaker, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. on Thursday joined state transit workers in opposing a November ballot initiative that would make it easier for state and local governments to contract privately for engineering and design work.

Proposition 35 is sponsored by private engineers who say that despite a recent hiring binge, Caltrans lacks enough experienced engineers to deliver billions of dollars in state transportation projects.

The Jarvis anti-tax group previously had supported the initiative, but abruptly switched sides to join the measure’s opponents, led by the union representing the state highway engineers.

Jarvis president Jon Coupal said that although his organization supports the concept of contracting out, he concluded after reading Proposition 35 that the measure--a constitutional amendment--is flawed. He took issue with a provision that he contends would invalidate any conflicting contracting practices of local governments, noting that local control is a key conservative principle.

“We have come to the conclusion that this measure is not in the taxpayers’ best interests and should be defeated,” Coupal said.

Coupal’s reasoning drew criticism from state Sen. Ray Haynes (R-Riverside), who described the Jarvis group’s decision as “ignorant.”

“I think they’ve made a serious mistake here,” Haynes said. “For those who believe in the most efficient delivery of government services at the least cost, this doesn’t make sense.”

Scott McDonald, a spokesman for the campaign supporting the initiative, also criticized Coupal’s announcement.

“There are more than 150 local governments that have endorsed Proposition 35,” McDonald said. “They endorsed it because they realize we need to get transportation projects moving.”

The campaign opposing the measure says its passage will lead to project delays of 14 to 18 months. They released findings from a report they hired former State Auditor Kurt Sjoberg to compile. The document concludes that Proposition 35 would cost $261 million to $344 million in construction delays for highway, school and hospital projects.

Bruce Blanning, executive assistant of Professional Engineers in California Government, the union representing 11,000 engineers, architects and land surveyors employed in state government, added that he believes local governments that support Proposition 35 will follow the lead of the Jarvis Assn.

“Once they read it and understand it, they will also oppose it,” Blanning said.

Thursday’s events represented the latest skirmish in a 20-year-old battle between the dueling engineers. Democratic lawmakers intervened in the long-standing dispute earlier this month in hopes of negotiating a compromise.

Their efforts failed. Meetings are scheduled to resume in August, when the Legislature returns from summer recess. At stake is the delivery of Gov. Gray Davis’ six-year, $6.8-billion congestion-relief plan.