About Us and Breaking News

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BREAKING NEWS  

There is a Bond Tsunami headed our way in Nov 2024.   

(1) Having lost their $1 billion bond (full cost with interest) measure just this past March, Tam HS District is coming back with a $500k bond ($289k+interest). It will be only for unneeded buildings, there is nothing for student education/improved performance - which has slipped from the top to the bottom of Bay Area's top achieving high schools in the last several years. Plus, enrollment is declining.  There is NO SENIOR EXEMPTION; those on a fixed income could face another $300/yr+ for 30 yrs. At most the bond should have been for $80 million for mandatory items, with possibly a parcel tax later. A parcel tax includes protection of seniors on fixed incomes, and the money goes to improving education, not building and remodeling buildings that were recently remodeled. If this bond passes, student performance will just continue to decline - BUT now it will happen in bigger buildings. THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON BETTER EDUCATION, NOT NEW EDIFICES.

(2) Prop 2 is the State  bond measure that seeks $10 Billion for capital improvements for schools - DUPLICATING the Tam HS bond measure - which local bond Marin taxpayers will have to pay on top of the State bond tax bite. 

(3)   A $20 Billion bond to build "affordable" housing and for homeless in the Bay Area was on the November ballot to be voted on, and to be funded by ONLY the taxpayers of 9 Bay Area Counties  (1 person household making $55k is low income).  AT THE SAME TIME ON THE BALLOT IS PROP 5 WHICH WOULD GUT PROP 13 AND REQUIRE ONLY 55%, AND NOT 2/3RDs VOTE OF TAXPAYERS TO PASS HOUSING BONDS AND "OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE"  TAXES. 

LATE BREAKING NEWS:  MERCIFICALLY THE BOND MEASURE WAS TAKEN OFF THE BALLOT ON AUGUST 14, 2024 - because there were fears it would tank Prop 5 to lower the percentage to pass such bonds to 55% from 2/3rds.  Be award that this $20 Billion bond measure will be back if Prop 5 wins in November. 

(4) Then there is Prop 4 that would allow the State to borrow $10 Billion for climate change related issues which the taxpayers would have to pay back with over a Billion in interest alone. 

This is all on top of local sales tax increases, HUGE increases in sanitation rates and Water rates (see MMWD increases) and electricity and gas costs. These increases in taxes and local utility rates will make all housing in Marin unaffordable for those with homes here now.  DEVELOPERS ARE NOT PAYING FOR ALL OF THE COSTLY INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED, THE TAXPAYERS HERE NOW ARE PAYING.

TAXPAYERS SHOULD CONSIDER VOTING AGAINST ALL OF THE HUGE TAX/BOND INCREASES IN NOVEMBER.  THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNOR SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE WASTE (BILLIONS  OF COVID FUNDS, UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS, HOMELESS FUNDS - -  STOLEN OR STILL NOT ACCOUNTED FOR) AND STOP THE OVERSPENDING. CALIFORNIA IS $32 BILLION "IN THE RED" THIS YEAR ALONE  

Elderly and those on a fixed income cannot afford gas, eggs, electricity, water, and they are not exempted from the Tam HS District bond/tax.  Many younger Marin residents are overwhelmed NOW by taxes and basic living costs. 

THIS IS  UNSUSTAINABLE, ONLY THE VERY RICH AND THE VERY POOR AND HOMELESS WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE IN MARIN

MUTA HISTORY

Since 1975 Marin United Taxpayers Association [MUTA] has been a central force in Marin to hold back  taxes  that make Marin even more unaffordable.  While each year your Basic Property Tax can go up only 2% - your "add-on" taxes [including higher and higher sales taxes] may increase in greater amounts making it difficult  for those with moderate or fixed incomes to pay.  More and more we see Seniors and young people having to leave the County because they are "taxed out."