Whoa, Aaron, didn’t you openly campaign for and take money as a consultant for Yes on B in Placer County? Yes I did, one of the reasons I signed on to an objectionable tax increase is that the measure was written specifically to allocate all of the money to specific projects and none went to the general funds of cities. In order for your intrepid blogger to go up on a tax increase that is one of the perquisites.

Corona had no such restrictions on its’ Measure X and I am sure the residents that are paying attention are wishing there had been.

There is some devastating stuff on the internet. If Measure X was run again, it would fail.

Address Homelessness? Whoops. It has gotten worse. But they did jack the budget up 400+%

Assist Small Business? Like those that have been eminent-domained or surrounded by the redevelopment? I guess they spent a bunch of money on that, too.

REDUCE TRAFFIC IMPACTS??? Like the McKinley overpass disaster or spending $35MM shrinking 6th st?

But the devil is in the “maintain other general services” portion of this ballot language.

Let’s look at the tale of the debt tape:

2018 Debts (Payments)

Pension Obligation Bond $276,710M (Issued in 2021) 

Take a close look – they bought a $277M pension obligation bond, yet have incurred another $108MM in unfunded Pers liability since that bond was taken out!

Also notice how the total debt service has grown $15MM, HALF THE AMOUNT RAISED BY MEASURE X!

This is EXACTLY the scenario taxpayer advocates cite when opposing local tax measures.

Councilmember Wes Speake on his rambling website with well over 1,000 words on the home page leads with his chin:

Sounds great huh! They hired 15 new sworn police officers! (Note: the crime rate in Corona has escalated significantly in the same time period)

Since Measure X was passed: Speake and the rest of the rubber stamp city council, hired 165 other employees for the city of Corona as well. This is the Willardson / Ellis vision for Corona, a dystopian ginormous government paradise.

So, since Measure X passed, allegedly giving the City of Corona $30MM in new revenue – it was spent:

Adding $15MM a year in debt payments. (and the council just incurred another $35MM in bond debt at recent meetings)

Adding 180 total employees, including the 15 officers Speake brags about. This is how, despite borrowing a staggering $277MM to finance future Pension and Benefits debt that the city of Corona still finds itself short another $108 Million in unfunded liabilities.

Adding 52% to the general fund expenditures in the 4 years since Measure X Passed.

It sure sounds like they are bankrupting the City of Corona, doesn’t it? I have a theory as to their next moves and you are not going to like it.

To be continued.