This author has not written his bio yet.
But we are proud to say that Mimi Willard contributed 113 entries already.
Transportation Authority of Marin’s proposed ½ cent sales tax renewal has attracted considerable opposition owing to its 30 year term. With rapidly evolving technological and societal changes, that’s much further into the future than any congestion management agency can predict. If TAM gets a 30 year renewal they won’t have to deal with us pesky […]
The Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers Urges Vote YES on Measure J Tamalpais Union High School District $149 Annual 4-Year Supplemental Parcel Tax The Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers encourages voting YES on Measure J, a supplemental $149 annual parcel tax. Measure J would expire in June 30, 2022, simultaneously with the existing $294 annual parcel tax. […]
Argument Against Measure AA (TAM Sales Tax Renewal) Voters should reject Measure AA, a thirty-year renewal of the 0.5% county-wide sales tax whose revenues go to the Transportation Authority of Marin. Thirty years is way too long. The Transportation Authority of Marin doesn’t have a coherent thirty year congestion relief plan. It has a “Christmas […]
The Marin Association of Public Employees (MAPE)* is going on strike to force Marin’s Board of Supervisors to give them an 11% pay raise! Their demands are excessive and lack accountability. Our supervisors vote on any contract. Tell them to reject MAPE’s demands. And insist that Supervisors who have repeatedly accepted campaign money from MAPE […]
NO on Regional Measure 3, the $3.00 toll hike On June 2018 Bay Area Ballots The Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers — a nonprofit non-partisan advocacy group protecting the rights and interests of Marin taxpayers – urges voting NO ON Regional Measure 3. RM-3, a huge money grab by an out-of-control, un-elected regional planning agency, […]
Routine increases in garbage collection fees plus the introduction of a garbage-related regulatory compliance charge sparked an accusation Tuesday that the county is profiting from garbage rate hikes. During a public hearing on the fee increases, Mimi Willard of Kentfield, founder and president of the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, said, “When the supervisors approve rate […]
Based on new information, CO$T now opposes Kentfield School District Measure A. Our prior approach was to take “No Position”, while providing detailed information so voters could make an informed choice. Measure A proposes to raise the parcel tax on single family homes and condos to $1,498 (+31%) effective 7/1/2018. We urge KSD to develop […]
The Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers has decided to take NO POSITION on the Kentfield School District parcel tax — neither endorsing nor opposing. KSD’s superior schools depend on parcel tax revenues for current programs and services. But the proposed tax measure has drawbacks. To help voters make educated decisions, we’ve analyzed the KSD ballot measure […]
CO$T Endorses Voting YES on Measure B (Larkspur Essential Services Sales Tax) October 6, 2017 Kentfield, CA: The Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers — a nonprofit non-partisan advocacy group protecting the rights and interests of Marin taxpayers – recommends voting YES ON MEASURE B (Larkspur Essential Services Sales Tax). CO$T’s leadership group gave the thumbs up […]
CO$T Endorses Voting NO on Measure E (Flood Zone 1 Parcel Tax) October 4, 2017 Kentfield, CA: The Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers — a nonprofit non-partisan advocacy group protecting the rights and interests of Marin taxpayers – urges voting NO ON MEASURE E (Flood Zone 1 Parcel Tax). CO$T gives the proposed tax failing grades […]
CO$T Forum on Taxes The Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers’ (CO$T) Public Event Guest Speaker: California’s Preeminent Taxpayer Rights Advocate Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association President, Jon Coupal New and increased taxes – and recent events eroding taxpayers’ right to vote on them — are undermining proposition 13’s promises of fair, affordable taxes. Learn about recent and […]
https://marinpost.org/blog/2017/9/3/recent-court-decision-likely-unleashes-additional-spate-of-local-taxes-in-ca California’s “Citizens United” A game-changing decision issued by the California Supreme Court appears to eviscerate taxpayer protections provided under Proposition 13 and Proposition 218 (the Right to Vote on Taxes Act) that require a 2/3rds majority vote to pass tax measures. The result could be a tax tsunami funded by special interests masquerading as […]
Brewing tax hikes may test Marin voters’ generous spirit A new article by Marin IJ columnist, Dick Spotswood examines the array of substantial tax hikes challenging Marin voters in the upcoming election cycle. “Tamalpais Union High School District is pushing a blockbuster $450 million facilities improvement bond for the 2018 ballot. Its effort will cost […]
http://www.marinij.com/opinion/20170724/marin-voice-assemblyman-levine-stood-up-for-local-control From the article: “In 2014, Levine corrected a mistake that wrongfully categorized Marin as “urban,” reflecting small communities built along winding roads at the base of Mount Tamalpais. The new bill extends suburban density until 2028. Elected officials in other jurisdictions prioritize “urban” zoning to match their urban lifestyle. They make choices to attract […]
Hiring Consultant Would Further Advance TUHSD’s Plan for $450 Million Bond Measure and Parcel Tax. The Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) will be deciding Tuesday July 18 whether to hire a “campaign strategist” for (1) a proposed $450 million bond measure in 2018 and (2) a possible parcel tax — of size not yet […]
July 5, 2017 Dear Elected Official: The 2017 Civil Grand Jury has issued three reports about unfunded retirement costs, which, of itself, indicates the urgency of the problem. 1. Marin’s Retirement Health Care Benefits 2. The Budget Squeeze: How Will Marin Fund Its Public Employee Pensions 3. The Big Picture: Funding Marin’s Public Employee Pensions […]
If SB-231 Passes, You are Powerless to Prevent New Property Taxes for Stormwater. Contact Assembly Member Marc Levine and Senator Mike McGuire ASAP. An Assembly vote just scheduled for Monday 6/26 threatens to remove your right to vote on new taxes — in this case, the imposition of new local storm water taxes that would […]
Tell McGuire & Levine To Protect OUR Right to Vote on New Taxes. If SB-231 Passes, You are Powerless to Prevent New Property Taxes for Stormwater. Contact Assembly Member Marc Levine and Senator Mike McGuire ASAP. An Assembly vote just scheduled for Monday 6/26 threatens to remove your right to vote on new taxes — […]
A Recent (push) poll by the Transportation of Marin found that only 2% of respondents wanted more money spent on bike paths. That brings up the question of what exactly do the other 98% of RATE PAYERS want THEIR money spent on? TAM would like to increase our taxes but they are not telling us […]
The Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) will be deciding soon whether to accept a $300 million Facilities Master Plan (FMP) for major capital projects — mainly at Tam, Redwood and Drake High Schools. If the FMP is approved, the board will then consider pursuing a $300 million bond offering (estimated to cost each property […]
