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Stockton Ca. Like Detroit is going to go bankrupt. Who is to blame? The Tax payers, for refusing to pay any more taxes? The politicians and the unions, for signing contracts that were unsustainable?

GINGERBREAD 2012/06/26 01:20:57
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  • Leasheryn/Lady Willpower 2012/06/26 01:35:47
    The previous politicians, in collusion with the unions, signed agreements, th...
    Leasheryn/Lady Willpower
    +6
    The politicians and unions who do not have a realistic view of the economic crisis facing America.

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  • gaylehelen 2012/06/28 18:59:26
    Undecided
    gaylehelen
    It's not the taxpayers fault, but the fault of both previous and current administrators. Where I live we have a new town manager who is really cleaning things up. Not an easy task and it's going to take awhile, but at least something is being done.
    I wish the best to all in the same situation, but it's not the taxpayers fault. The voting public is more at fault than the taxpayers.
  • GINGERB... gaylehelen 2012/06/28 19:03:37
    GINGERBREAD
    But the voting public is the same as the taxpayers. Well at least 50% of them. the other 50% pay no taxes, so why should they care.
  • gaylehelen GINGERB... 2012/06/29 23:20:28
    gaylehelen
    Not all taxpayers vote. Some don't even register.
  • Constitution Believer 2012/06/28 15:47:47
    The previous politicians, in collusion with the unions, signed agreements, th...
    Constitution Believer
    I don't know if the people in soda head are aware of this, well the Liberals really don't give a damn, but did you know that the unions pay is 4 to sometime 5 times higher then what a non union worker makes?
    I was reading somewhere today I think Yahoo news, yes I know Yahoo news is not a reliable source, that other cities in California are on the verge of bankruptcy....and PELOSI LAND IS ONE OF THEM.
    It is a shame that Obama has let the Unions take over the cities like they have but then he wouldn't get the votes that he will get, and after the decision of the Supreme Court THE BLACK HITLER OF THE US HAS JUST WON THE ELECTION...EVEN BEFORE NOVEMBER.
    He has the GAY VOTES...he has the LATINO VOTES...and now he has the LAZY SONS OF BEECHES TO LAZY TO GET A JOB, wait there are no jobs, VOTES...all this done with out any casting a vote all that is left if the formality of voting to make it Obamalegal.
  • Claybern 2012/06/28 04:38:32 (edited)
    The previous politicians, in collusion with the unions, signed agreements, th...
    Claybern
    +1
    The libs are not going to like what I am about to say, but the unions have got to go. They have out lived thier exsistence.
  • MW121 2012/06/27 11:20:23
    The previous politicians, in collusion with the unions, signed agreements, th...
    MW121
    +2
    More and more cities are going to go bankrupt.. The state of Ca will be next.. Brown's tax initiative won't pass in Nov and they are going to have to slash everything...
  • CuresCancer 2012/06/27 05:20:45 (edited)
    The previous politicians, in collusion with the unions, signed agreements, th...
    CuresCancer
    +1
    A huge part of the "investments" are in the retirement plans for the city workers.

    Each and every city, county and state keeps a separate set of books. It's not the one that has the budget in it that you hear about on TV. In my county - a small one - there is over $100 million dollars in it. I found it in the local library. Your library will have a similar second set of books in it.

    Across the country these second sets of books contains TRILLIONS of dollars. They own about 70% of the Dow companies.

    These books are called the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, or CAFR.

    It is a scandal of gigantic proportions, but not many people are aware of it.

    If you bring it up, they will tell you by law they aren't allowed to touch that money. They don't reveal that they are the ones who make those laws.

    If you do any city, county or state business, a large part of the money you pay, whether it be a license tag, a court filing, a ticket, or whatever, will be allocated to these huge slush funds.

    Every taxpayer and fee payers is getting hosed by these secret "untouchable" funds. Right now every city, and county is screaming that they have no money. Yet they have these funds that aren't included in the budget.

    So you won't think I'm making this up, here are some examples. This one is for the San...





    A huge part of the "investments" are in the retirement plans for the city workers.

    Each and every city, county and state keeps a separate set of books. It's not the one that has the budget in it that you hear about on TV. In my county - a small one - there is over $100 million dollars in it. I found it in the local library. Your library will have a similar second set of books in it.

    Across the country these second sets of books contains TRILLIONS of dollars. They own about 70% of the Dow companies.

    These books are called the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, or CAFR.

    It is a scandal of gigantic proportions, but not many people are aware of it.

    If you bring it up, they will tell you by law they aren't allowed to touch that money. They don't reveal that they are the ones who make those laws.

    If you do any city, county or state business, a large part of the money you pay, whether it be a license tag, a court filing, a ticket, or whatever, will be allocated to these huge slush funds.

    Every taxpayer and fee payers is getting hosed by these secret "untouchable" funds. Right now every city, and county is screaming that they have no money. Yet they have these funds that aren't included in the budget.

    So you won't think I'm making this up, here are some examples. This one is for the San Joaquin, County. Stockton is the county seat::

    CAFR

    CAFR

    Stockton  CA Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
    (more)
  • Obama Failed Soda Head Chie... 2012/06/27 04:41:00
    The previous politicians, in collusion with the unions, signed agreements, th...
    Obama Failed Soda Head Chief Opi
    Posted: 06/26/2012

    FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- Stockton could become the largest U.S. city to declare bankruptcy after a deadline to make a deal with its creditors passed and the city's mayor said Tuesday she did not believe a settlement had been reached.

    Mayor Ann Johnston told KCRA-TV that a formal bankruptcy filing now appears "very likely."

    In the past three years, officials in the city that was slammed by the collapse of the housing market dealt with $90 million in deficits through a series of drastic cuts.

    They eliminated one-fourth of the city's police officers, one-third of the fire staff, and 40 percent of all other employees. They also cut wages and medical benefits.

    To plug next year's anticipated $26 million budget shortfall, a proposed budget to be considered Tuesday night would suspend payments for debts and legal claims; reduce payments for retiree medical benefits; further cut some pay and benefits; and increase revenue through code enforcement and parking citations.

    The proposed budget includes no major service reductions, City Manager Bob Deis said.

    "The whole purpose of filing Chapter 9 is to avoid an uncontrolled chaotic situation," Deis said previously. "Bankruptcy provides the equivalent of a pause button. It retains services and provides structure so you don't have a bunch of lawsuits."

    A formal bankruptcy filing could come as soon as Wednesday.
  • GINGERB... Obama F... 2012/06/27 14:33:00
    GINGERBREAD
    +2
    If you will notice, none of these politicians have cut their pay, not thier hangers on.
  • Obama F... GINGERB... 2012/06/27 14:39:37
    Obama Failed Soda Head Chief Opi
    +1
    Of course not, why would they?
  • Me 2012/06/27 03:30:28
    Undecided
    Me
    +1
    I live bout 40 mins from there....its the prior city counsel...the new mayor cant fix it
  • ETpro 2012/06/27 00:30:15
    Undecided
    ETpro
    +1
    Grover Norquist and his Prop 13 launched California on its road to ruin. If you take any successful operation and extract out of it the needed revenues to make investments for the future, bankruptcy is always the predictable result.
  • CuresCa... ETpro 2012/06/27 05:18:49 (edited)
    CuresCancer
    +1
    A huge part of the "investments" are in the retirement plans for the city workers.

    Each and every city, county and state keeps a separate set of books. It's not the one that has the budget in it that you hear about on TV. In my county - a small one - there is over $100 million dollars in it. I found it in the local library. Your library will have a similar second set of books in it.

    Across the country these second sets of books contains TRILLIONS of dollars. They own about 70% of the Dow companies.

    These books are called the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, or CAFR.

    It is a scandal of gigantic proportions, but not many people are aware of it.

    If you bring it up, they ill tell you by law they aren't allowed to touch that money. They don't reveal that they are the ones who make those laws.

    If you do any city, county or state business, a large part of the money you pay, whether it be a license tag, a court filing, a ticket, or whatever, will be allocated to these huge slush funds.

    So you won't think I'm making this up, here are some examples. Click the "more" link:





    The third one is for San Joaquin, County. Stockton is the county seat:

    A huge part of the "investments" are in the retirement plans for the city workers.

    Each and every city, county and state keeps a separate set of books. It's not the one that has the budget in it that you hear about on TV. In my county - a small one - there is over $100 million dollars in it. I found it in the local library. Your library will have a similar second set of books in it.

    Across the country these second sets of books contains TRILLIONS of dollars. They own about 70% of the Dow companies.

    These books are called the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, or CAFR.

    It is a scandal of gigantic proportions, but not many people are aware of it.

    If you bring it up, they ill tell you by law they aren't allowed to touch that money. They don't reveal that they are the ones who make those laws.

    If you do any city, county or state business, a large part of the money you pay, whether it be a license tag, a court filing, a ticket, or whatever, will be allocated to these huge slush funds.

    So you won't think I'm making this up, here are some examples. Click the "more" link:

    CAFR

    CAFR

    The third one is for San Joaquin, County. Stockton is the county seat:

    Stockton  CA Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
    (more)
  • GINGERB... ETpro 2012/06/27 14:37:09
    GINGERBREAD
    +2
    Of course, blame the tax payers. The tax payers decided that they don't want to pay for more taxes, did the politicians cut their spending? Hell no. This is a very big lesson for every body, YOU CANNOT LIVE ON BORROWED MONEY. Eventually, the money well will dry up, This is what these liberals, socialists and communists cannot understand
  • Obama F... ETpro 2012/06/27 14:46:44
    Obama Failed Soda Head Chief Opi
    Proposition 13 (officially named the People's Initiative to Limit Property Taxation)

    was an amendment of the Constitution of California enacted during 1978, by means of the initiative process. It was approved by California voters on June 6, 1978.

    It was declared constitutional by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Nordlinger v. Hahn, 505 U.S. 1 (1992). Proposition 13 is embodied in Article 13A of the Constitution of the State of California.[1]


    The most significant portion of the act is the first paragraph, which limited the tax rate for real estate:

    Section 1. (a) The maximum amount of any ad valorem tax on real property shall not exceed one percent (1%) of the full cash value of such property. The one percent (1%) tax to be collected by the counties and apportioned according to law to the districts within the counties.

    The proposition decreased property taxes by assessing property values at their 1975 value and restricted annual increases of assessed value of real property to an inflation factor, not to exceed 2% per year. It also prohibited reassessment of a new base year value except for (a) change in ownership or (b) completion of new construction.

    In addition to decreasing property taxes, the initiative also contained language requiring a two-thirds majority in bo...




    Proposition 13 (officially named the People's Initiative to Limit Property Taxation)

    was an amendment of the Constitution of California enacted during 1978, by means of the initiative process. It was approved by California voters on June 6, 1978.

    It was declared constitutional by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Nordlinger v. Hahn, 505 U.S. 1 (1992). Proposition 13 is embodied in Article 13A of the Constitution of the State of California.[1]


    The most significant portion of the act is the first paragraph, which limited the tax rate for real estate:

    Section 1. (a) The maximum amount of any ad valorem tax on real property shall not exceed one percent (1%) of the full cash value of such property. The one percent (1%) tax to be collected by the counties and apportioned according to law to the districts within the counties.

    The proposition decreased property taxes by assessing property values at their 1975 value and restricted annual increases of assessed value of real property to an inflation factor, not to exceed 2% per year. It also prohibited reassessment of a new base year value except for (a) change in ownership or (b) completion of new construction.

    In addition to decreasing property taxes, the initiative also contained language requiring a two-thirds majority in both legislative houses for future increases of any state tax rates or amounts of revenue collected, including income tax rates. It also requires a two-thirds vote majority in local elections for local governments wishing to increase special taxes. Proposition 13 received an enormous amount of publicity, not only in California, but throughout the United States.[2]

    Passage of the initiative presaged a "taxpayer revolt" throughout the country that is sometimes thought to have contributed to the election of Ronald Reagan to the presidency during 1980. However, of 30 anti-tax ballot measures that year, only 13 passed.[3]
    A large contributor to Proposition 13 was the sentiment that older Californians should not be priced out of their homes through high taxes.[4] The proposition has been called the "third rail" (meaning "untouchable subject") of California politics, and it is not popular politically for lawmakers to attempt to change it.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
    (more)
  • Callaway 2012/06/26 23:30:13
    The previous politicians, in collusion with the unions, signed agreements, th...
    Callaway
    +1
    Going to happen right here in Illinois as well but boy the unions are happy the state is bankrupt can't pay the bills but boy the unions are sure happy. Don't worry be happy let someone else worry about it, the motto of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Illinois.
  • Edensasp 2012/06/26 21:28:28
    Undecided
    Edensasp
    Not enough facts and information to base and express an informed opinion
  • JohnnyRudick 2012/06/26 20:30:57 (edited)
    The previous politicians, in collusion with the unions, signed agreements, th...
    JohnnyRudick
    +1
    Stockton should have spent within it;s means.
    We who have been around a while know that in our own lives.
    A city is no dangerous.

    As for unions and all, even for this nation, giving more benefits and higher wages is the answer - then why don't we just give everyone free benefits (if they want it let 'em have it) and raise everyone wages high enough to make everyone millionaires.

    Now, problem solved.



    No, higher wages and more benefits is NOT the answer to solve our monetary problems.

    Money that is worth more would help a lot.



    To increase the value of our money lets bring back more real work to go along with our service jobs.

    Lets produce more Iron, Steel, Oil, Gold, Silver, and so on and then the spin off jobs that come about when the country has more wealth of its one.

    Yeah, I know that is not the total answer but it is the right highway going in the right direction. This is not NASCAR folks. ;-)
  • J 2012/06/26 20:00:03
    Undecided
    J
    +1
    Well, I don't know the whole story, but I would be a lot less likely to blame the tax-payer, or the voter. Since votes in CA don't mean anything - the 9th District or State courts make ALL decisions.
  • Centrist_Bill 2012/06/26 19:45:28
    Undecided
    Centrist_Bill
    +1
    During the boom years Stockton spent ALOT of money improving the city and didnt save for the bad times. This is FACT no matter how you want to look at it.
  • Ron in Oregon 2012/06/26 19:44:14
    The previous politicians, in collusion with the unions, signed agreements, th...
    Ron in Oregon
    +1
    If I were a member of a public union and I gave another member a raise that person would then give me a raise. adinfinitum.
  • BOOGIE-WOOGIE-MUSIC-MAN-ROC... 2012/06/26 19:14:09
    Undecided
    BOOGIE-WOOGIE-MUSIC-MAN-ROCK-N-R
    +2
    Detroit is a complicated situation, the same as Birmingham Alabama, and many many many many others.
  • TerryAgee 2012/06/26 18:36:18
    Undecided
    TerryAgee
    +1
    Blame the people of California. It has too many people there, and too few resources to support them.
  • J TerryAgee 2012/06/26 20:01:26
    J
    +2
    Here is an idea - don't spend what you don't have!
  • TerryAgee J 2012/06/26 22:52:43
    TerryAgee
    +1
    I see your point, but having too many people will interfere with a person's spending budget in California. Yay or nay?
  • Obama F... TerryAgee 2012/06/27 14:51:05
    Obama Failed Soda Head Chief Opi
    I will add, there many company and people moving out of CA. so thing will only get worse here.
  • GINGERB... Obama F... 2012/06/27 14:59:30
    GINGERBREAD
    +2
    And yet, the people in California continue to re-elect the people that are selling them out. Don't make sense, but hell I don't live in that state, why should I care.
  • Obama F... GINGERB... 2012/06/27 15:07:30
    Obama Failed Soda Head Chief Opi
    Yes, i know, it just crazy here
  • J TerryAgee 2012/06/27 20:39:26
    J
    Only if the STATE is providing for them rather than having them EARN a living.
  • GINGERB... J 2012/06/27 20:48:48
    GINGERBREAD
    Hey it's not their money that they are squandering, it's the tax payers money, and it seems that the tax payers, or what's left of them, will continue to shell out.
  • J GINGERB... 2012/06/28 20:19:51
    J
    I am just going to be pissed to the hilt if Congress decides that fluid states have to bail out these states (and cities) that have no control on their own funds and have bankrupted themselves. One day, ver soon, people are going to HAVE to learn personal responsibility. I just hate what these greedy people are setting up for my kids and grandkids.
  • KrSpo 2012/06/26 17:24:23
    Undecided
    KrSpo
    +1
    The problems here are more than just their issue or our issue. I am sure that the contracts were full of issues, however the lack of tax payers willingness to pay them is part of the problem as well. The only way to ever truly get rid of corruption in government and the lack of a tax payer willingness to pay is to create laws that mandate that all people MUST vote on all items. I know this scares the pants off people, bu look how it has done for Australia.
  • J KrSpo 2012/06/26 20:02:16
    J
    +1
    Voting in California is for naught. Judges make the decisions - not the voters.
  • GINGERB... KrSpo 2012/06/27 15:52:50
    GINGERBREAD
    What I'm seeing all over this country is that the TAX PAYERS are finally awake, and they have seen their politicians making a mockery of the constitution. These politicians have awaken a sleeping giant, and they don't know what to do. Oh I know what they'll do, BLAME THE TAX PAYERS
  • KrSpo GINGERB... 2012/06/27 16:03:47
    KrSpo
    The largest problem at a state level though, from a non tax state that is, As the economy has tightened, the spenders keep spending. Money or not, they keep right on writing the checks. I agree, but those same tax payers are voters, and the population that votes is to blame.
  • GINGERB... KrSpo 2012/06/27 19:49:27
    GINGERBREAD
    This is what every politician will tell you. IT'S THE GOVERMENT'S JOB TO SPEND THE MONEY. Show me any government that has spent less than it's predecessors? As long as politicians can be bought, there will always be politicians.
  • KrSpo GINGERB... 2012/06/27 19:52:25
    KrSpo
    don't get me wrong I agree with you, just need to find a way to end that.
  • GINGERB... KrSpo 2012/06/27 20:33:17
    GINGERBREAD
    Do what they did in ICELAND. The people threw their political leaders and the bankers in jail. It took them about 2 years to get the country back in shape, and the old political leaders and bankers were in jail.
  • KrSpo GINGERB... 2012/06/27 20:43:01
    KrSpo
    we have laws in place that wouldn't allow that. Our biggest issue is that we are so big a dramatic change like that would probably doom us..
  • D Hanes 2012/06/26 16:42:51
    The previous politicians, in collusion with the unions, signed agreements, th...
    D Hanes
    +1
    People are elected to run a city or government.. when they are inexperienced or do not do their job.. cities go broke.. I suspect this is what happened here.


    Too many politicians taking out of the pot and not worried about living up to what got them elected.. too many crooked politicians!

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