Posted on Saturday, Sep. 12, 2005

CONTRA COSTA TIMES
LETTER TO THE EDITOR by GAYLE McLAUGHLIN

Opposes Tax Hike

The August 30 Times article failed to mention I'm the only Richmond council member who disagrees with the Richmond tax hike ballot measure. My opposition to a sales tax hike made it impossible for the City Council to directly place the tax hike on the ballot (a unanimous vote of the council is required for that). My colleagues on the council were left with only one alternative route: initiating, as ordinary citizens and not as the council, a signature drive supporting the initiative. All council members, except me, supported this initiative as citizens.

Richmond already has a very high sales tax (8.75 percent). Another increase would put our local businesses into unfair competition with neighboring cities. Furthermore, it's a regressive tax; it leans on the ordinary folks. Richmond should first make sure all sectors are paying their fare share of taxes. I don't support giving million-dollar tax breaks to Chevron (utility users' tax "cap") and then taking more from Richmond working families.

The citizens' sales tax hike initiative appears to have received the required signatures for November's ballot. Now it's up to voters.

I opposed it from my council seat and I'll oppose it in November as a voting citizen.

Gayle McLaughlin
Richmond

McLaughlin is a member of the Richmond City Council.