653 / 24.74% Yes votes ...... 1986 / 75.26% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Del Mar is facing a budget crisis. Over the last ten years the state has taken away $5 million dollars from the City to solve Sacramento's budget problems. Last year alone the state took $828,000 (11%) from the City's budget. These raids on local revenues have severely impacted Del Mar's ability to fund important local programs such as police and fire service, pedestrian improvements, and downtown revitalization. Additionally, the state has mandated the City implement new programs without providing any funding. To balance our budget for this fiscal year, the City has reduced expenses, cancelled important capital projects and left positions unfilled. Any further cuts will degrade essential services.

To resolve Del Mar's fiscal crisis, a volunteer citizen's committee recommends that the City Charter be amended to allow an increase in the real property transfer tax (of up to $6.00 per $1,000 of a property's sale price). This transfer tax would only be paid when a property is sold. As an example, a home or commercial property selling for $1,000,000 would generate a one-time additional tax of $6,000.

Transfers/gifts of property in or out of a trust or between family members would not trigger the real property transfer tax. We support this measure because the new revenues stay in Del Mar. The money cannot be taken by Sacramento. This money helps to replace revenues the state has taken away. In the future should economic conditions improve, the measure would also allow the City Council to reduce this tax. Current City Council members unanimously support this proposition. Protect Del Mar's future. Preserve quality services for Del Mar. Please Vote Yes on N.

s/Richard L. Earnest, Joseph E. Sullivan, Donn Bleau, Patrick Giannetto, Jerry Finnell

Del Mar's budget crisis is not merely a result of state government raids on local revenues. Rather, it is a symptom of chronic waste and mismanagement of local government. Local officials have had to deal with state appropriations from the city budget for over a decade, yet, despite the City's stable population, have done little to restrict City spending. During the same period, they increased the number of city employees by almost 50%, engaged in failed taxpayer-funded lawsuits, and squandered potential revenue from the Fairgrounds. Now, to cover their fiscal failures, they seek to levy a new, unjust tax of up to $6,000 to $100,000 on every taxpaying property owner selling their property in the City of Del Mar. This new tax violates the spirit of the Jarvis-Gann Initiative, Proposition 13, and may create a lien on your property! It will neither improve essential services nor solve our budget crisis. More likely, it will discourage new businesses and homeowners from establishing residence in an otherwise commercially viable and taxpayer-friendly city.

The City Council claims this new tax is reversible "should economic conditions improve," but they make no guarantees! Hold local government accountable!

Insist upon fiscal responsibility!

Demand the right way, and not the easy way!

The Council's fiscal failure should not become the residents' economic burden.

We ask residents of Del Mar to vote against this new tax burden. Vote NO on Proposition N.

s/Jon Coupal, Lewis K. Uhler, Hon. Andy Schooler, Tensia Moriel Trejo, Kevin M. Burke

To collect this new tax, the City of Del Mar has to return the approximately $150,000 of existing transfer tax they currently receive. If this tax passes, the City of Del Mar will set a precedent that will likely spread to every other city in San Diego County just like it did in Los Angeles County. This is a lien on private property! Del Mar has wasted taxpayer money on numerous lawsuits as well as losing the revenue we once had from the Fairgrounds. We need to cut spending rather than adding or increasing taxes. Instead of directing the Advisory Committee to examine ways of reducing City expenses, they were advised ". . . to consider proposals which would provide funds . . ." or additional ways to increase revenue. We ask the residents of Del Mar to revolt against this new tax lien. There is no question that it circumvents the intent of the Jarvis-Gann Initiative Proposition 13.

s/Kevin M. Burke, Marie E. Kohn, Melinda H. Bedell, Derek H. Bedell, Chris Villasenor

The City has managed its resources well and has acted aggressively to save your tax dollars. For example, the recent decision to share a Fire Chief with the City of Solana Beach produced the savings that helped balance this year's budget. A "pay as you go" philosophy has given Del Mar the highest possible bond rating for a City of its size. The City has always balanced its budget. That is why even the San Diego County Taxpayer's Association (an independent taxpayer watchdog group) has endorsed Prop. N. The Taxpayer's association did a thorough examination of Del Mar's finances before reaching its decision. The City had 48 employees fifteen years ago and it has 53 today. Additional employees have been required to meet federal and state un-funded mandates. Del Mar is in many ways a better place than it was 15 years ago. Passage of Prop N is essential to continuing necessary capital improvements and will protect us from future State raids.

No one wants more taxes- but we are convinced that a failure to act now will threaten the ability of the city to deliver fundamental services.

Vote Yes on N - Protect Del Mar's future.

s/Richard L. Earnest, Lisa Briggs, Jim Kennedy, Chiquita Abbott, Jerry Finnell