Castro Valley Cityhood AGAIN????
The usual suspects are pushing Castro Valley Cityhood with the same old tired ideas - control our destiny; we need to govern ourselves; we’ll be better off independent from the county. When you take off the glossy wrapping paper, here’s the reality:
If we become a city, then we have to reimburse the county for the millions of dollars in taxes that the county will lose from us for “lost” sales tax, property tax, permits charged, vehicle license tax - for starters, over a several year period. At least $10 million at year.
Then there is the cost of elected officials - at least $8,400 each annually. And you can bet it will be the usual suspects coming out of the weeds that haven’t be able to get elected to anything + all the campaigning folderal attached. With 5 city council members that adds up to $42,000. But that doesn’t count the support staff of at least two per council member at $70,000 annually for salary and benefits - a cool $700,000.
Then there is the cost of running a city - City Manager, clerks for social services, for permits, for daily operations - at least 30 at the onset - $70,000 each salary and benefits for a minimum of $2.1 million.
Then there are the police services - hiring or subcontracting? Either way it's at least $100,000 salaries and benefits each officer, with 20 persons needed - another $2,000,000! We are already on County fire services - and pay for it.
Finally, there is the cost of elections - Alameda County charges $4 -$6 per vote cast. Assuming 60,000 votes cast - there's another $300,000 per election.
Total cost to get started - at least $14,400,000 to be expensed before the doors open.
There were at least 16 empty Castro Valley storefronts as of this past Sunday. The largest businesses in Castro Valley are 4 grocery stores and 2 pharmacies - and that’s what Castro Valley would have to depend on. The last place in California - Jurupa Valley - that tried to overcome the burdens laid out above gave up because Sacramento wouldn't bail them out.
Send a message to the usual suspects that have been writing glowing cityhood letters to the Forum and to our county supervisor telling them that talking about Cityhood isn't looking any better than the last three times it was voted down.
–Frank Mellon, Castro Valley
