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March 4, 2010

CONTACT: Lani Lutar,
                     619-234-6423 or lani@sdcta.org
                     Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR
                     619-997-2495 or gayle@falconvalleygroup.com

San Diego County Taxpayers Association Supports Oceanside Charter Vote
Measure would increase flexibility and accountability

(San Diego) – The San Diego County Taxpayers Association Board of Directors voted to support a City of Oceanside ballot measure adopting a City Charter, changing the City of Oceanside’s status from a General Law municipality to Charter status. The measure will come before voters on the June 8, 2010 primary ballot.

Lani Lutar, President & CEO of the Association, said SDCTA’s board supported the measure for the following reasons:

• The City’s Charter prevents mandatory labor agreements from being imposed on private developers for publicly funded projects, ensuring the most cost-effective use of taxpayer dollars.
• The City’s Charter would exempt the City of Oceanside from California state public contracting and prevailing wage requirements, which will give the City greater freedom to choose contractors as well as a greater potential to save money on public projects.
• It requires public employees to opt in before union dues can be spent for political purposes.

“Histcally, SDCTA has supported municipalities becoming Charter cities. Doing so allows citizens to hold government to a higher standard of accountability,” said Lutar. “A Charter system allows cities to benefit from ‘home rule,’ which takes the State out of the equation on many local decisions.”

Lutar added that the Association urges leaders to be thoughtful in addressing governance matters within their new Charter should the measure be approved by the voters in June.

“The Association prefers the driving motivation for change to Charter status to be good governance rather than economics,” said Lutar.

In the state of California, there are 116 Charter cities. Seven of the 18 incorporated cities in San Diego County are Charter cities: Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Del Mar, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, and Vista.

A copy of the full staff analysis of the City Charter measure for the City of Oceanside is available at www.sdcta.org or by calling (619) 234-6423.

Click here to view SDCTA’s June election ballot measure recommendations. Check back regularly for updates.

A supermajority 60% vote of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) Board of Directors is required for a position to be taken on any ballot measure.

The San Diego County Taxpayers Association is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, dedicated to promoting accountable, cost-effective and efficient government and opposing unnecessary new taxes and fees. Founded in 1945, SDCTA has spent the past 65 years saving the region’s taxpayers millions of dollars, as well as generating information to help educate the public.