When I started to write this post the conclusion was going to be very different. I had gathered information about the language of Prop 63 and the pending litigation on the matter.
I did not vote for this ballot measure in 2004. I rarely vote for tax increases.
Despite this, it appeared to me that the will of the voters was not respected by the Governor and Legislature during the last budget deal. The language of Prop 63 requires not only additional dollars to be spent on mental health in California but also additional program additions as well.
Briefly, Proposition 63 was a measure passed by the voters in 2004 that placed an additional 1% income tax on income over $1 million. I did not support the measure because we already have a graduated income tax system. If the state wanted these programs then they should figure out a way to give the counties money to pay for them. The driving force behind this effort was then Assemblyman Darrel Steinberg.
On Tuesday, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors approved the expenditure of $91,000 of these funds for the mentally ill in our county to run a coffee cart. We are going to pay someone $91,000 to have the priveledge of being able to sell coffee and healthy snacks to county employees.
This has changed my whole view of Prop 63 monies. Do we have people that need mental health services? Yes. Is spending $91,000 in tax dollars on giving "