Incorporation of the Town of Alamo, March 2009

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A ballot proposition regarding the Incorporation of the Town of Alamo, Measure A on the March 3, 2009 ballot in Contra Costa County was defeated.[1] Voters in the geographical area would have become the Town of Alamo had the measure passed.[2]

The incorporation campaign took almost three years and was spearheaded by the Alamo Incorporation Movement led by Vicki Koc.

The ballot language was:

Shall the order of the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission, adopted on September 18, 2008, as Resolution No. 07-27, ordering the incorporation of the territory described and designated in Resolution No. 07-27 as the "Incorporation of the Town of Alamo", be confirmed, subject to the terms and conditions specified in Resolution No. 07-27?

Sixteen candidates announced they would run for the five spots on the Alamo Town Council had it become available. The candidates were Diane Barley, Bob Connelly, Dennis Johnson, Vicki Koc, Karen McPherson, Steve Mick, Vish More, Kevin Morrow, John Morrow, Randall Nahas, Karl Niyati, Joe Rubay, Grace Schmidt, Roger Smith, Brad Stribling and Brad Waite.

Since Measure A failed, the area in question will continue to be governed by the county government of Contra Costa.

Arguments against Measure A

Linda Best, Cecily Talbert Barclay and Joe Bologna published a guest commentary on February 7 in the Contra Costa Times arguing against Measure A. Their arguments against Measure A were:

  • The Comprehensive Fiscal Analysis (CFA) conducted to assess the fiscal impact of the incorporation "significantly overstates projected revenue and understates expenses, resulting in budget shortfalls that can be remedied only by cutting resident services or raising taxes and fees."[3]
  • "Property tax revenue assumptions are based on revenues generated in 2006, the peak of the state's economy and real estate market, and assume continued growth. In 2008, with the economic downturn and collapse of the real estate market, the reduction in home resales and falling prices yielded a significant decline in residential sales values. CFA assumptions of property tax revenue are no longer realistic."
  • The CFA understates the lawsuit costs associated with running a new city.
  • The CFA understates the city staffing, salary and benefits required by $1.8 million out of a $7.5 million budget in 2010-11, based on comparisons with city staffing costs in Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda.
  • Recent experiences of similar cities suggests that the CFA understates the costs of preparing the state mandated general plan, municipal code and housing element and meeting affordable housing requirements.

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Contra Costa Elections Division - March 3, 2009 Special Election" March 3, 2009
  2. ↑ Contra Costa Times, "Sixteen people running for Alamo town council", January 13, 2009
  3. ↑ Contra Costa Times, "Reader's Forum: Vote no on Alamo incorporation (Measure A)", February 7, 2009
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