Spending Tax Money and Endorsements….

On the City of Hemet's City Council Agenda for November 15, 2016 was the purchase of two 2017 F-150 XL Pickup trucks. One for the water department ($53,026.46) and the other for the Facilities Maintenance Division ($36,594.55).  The total cost is $89,621.01.  Gosch Auto Group of Hemet won the bid over Carmenita Truck Center and Reynold’s Ford.  The council voted unanimously last night (5-0) to purchase the two vehicles mentioned above from the Gosch Auto Group.  Why is this important?  The City of Hemet just passed a General Fund Tax Measure (Measure U) on Tuesday, November 8^th.  This tax measure was the second attempt at a tax measure after Measure E, a specific public safety tax that required a 2/3 plus one vote to pass, failed in the June primary. Measure U was backed by Keep Hemet Safe, Yes on U.  Eric Gosch served as a chair of both the Yes on U and Yes on E campaigns.  He was present at last night’s council meeting and acknowledged his role.  Measure U is a general fund tax.  This money can be spent to the council’s discretion.   There was a non-binding resolution passed by the council on August 23^rd, 2016 to allocate the funds to public safety.  There was discussion during the November 15^th council meeting about placing the resolution on the December agenda for the “new” council to vote on and adopt.  However, the council is not bound to allocate those funds to public safety, no matter how many times the resolution is adopted.  The independent citizens oversight committee for Measure U will be selected by the Hemet City Council. The following is taken from an article written by Craig Shultz of the Press Enterprise following the August 23^rd Council Meeting discussing the oversight committee.

“One of those is creation of a seven-member citizens’ oversight committee and Howard Rosenthal, one of the leaders of the effort to get the tax passed, said the committee will be quite active.  “We, the business and professional coalition under ‘Keep Hemet safe,’ are committed to pay for CPAs annually to track each budget and if we see any sign that the monies from Measure U are not being used to fully fund public safety, we will create enormous constructive pressure on the elected (officials) to stay on course,” he wrote in a message”.

The Keep Hemet Safe, Yes on U campaign main committee is made up of the members from the Hemet/San Jacinto Action Group.  The oversight committee will be chosen by the city council, which is the very same group, that will be needing the oversight.  The applications to serve on the oversight committee will be available next month for those who want to apply.  Let’s see if the oversight committee members reflect the other commissions and committees of the city.  Again, to restate, the council voted last night (5-0) to purchase the two vehicles mentioned above from the Gosch Auto Group.  In addition to the Gosch’s involvement with Measures E and U, Mayor Bonnie Wright received an endorsement not only from the Gosch’s, but also the Keep Hemet Safe, Yes on U Campaign.  Newly elected council member, Meyer and Perciful, do not take office until December 13, 2016.  All three (Wright, Meyer and Perciful) were endorsed by the Keep Hemet Safe, Yes on U campaign.

Council Agenda - http://www.cityofhemet.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/956

http://keephemetsafe.com/business-and-organization-endorsements/

http://hemetsanjacintoaction.org/committees - crime and safety committee, with Keep Hemet Safe website link

For information on who serves on Boards and Commissions in our valley, please see www.savehemet.blogspot.com and click on Who is Leading Hemet?