Editor:
Always discerning, J.J. Gasparotti asks, “Have we become so prosperous that fiscal responsibility is no longer a concern?” (“Money for Nothing” in the March 16 edition). Observing there’s “no such thing as ‘surplus money’…there is such a thing as having more money than brains,” he questions City Hall spending to fix what isn’t broken while neglecting what he thinks needs fixing.
In that context he also asks “Did the Laguna Beach Taxpayers Association die?”
Of course, that public finance watchdog’s demise came after LBTA led opposition defeating a 2012 ballot proposition to impose a $1.2 million increase in annual taxes for a new City Hall commission to buy “open space” in residential areas. City Hall surrogates promoting the new tax tried to co-opt LBTA with a dedicated seat on the commission.
Some LBTA board members coveted that seat, but a majority saw it as becoming part of the problem not solution. That divided identity between independent watchdog or City Hall stakeholder deepened into a schism after 2014, when LBTA adopted fiscal policies aligned with City Council candidates challenging incumbents and business as usual at City Hall.
A minority cohort tied to City Hall began opposing LBTA policy approved by majority rule. LBTA was unable to restore good order under its bylaws, and was disabled from within. Any attempt to resurrect LBTA from the dead is likely to renew that internal turmoil.
The question now is whether LBTA or a new coalition re-emerges with independence to question City Hall fiscal practices responsibly. As Gasparotti observes, City Hall insists current upward trends in discretionary spending are sustainable, even if borrowing is needed for projects like utility undergrounding. If deemed prudential that may be within City Council purview.
Gasparotti asks who’s left in town to question before either supporting or opposing long-term spending plans, based on an independent rather than codependent relationship to City Hall?
For example, in addition to our shared commitment to fire safety, what priority should be given to antiquated city storm drains causing regular five-year floods? Each seasonal flood cleanup costs millions, and does as much marine zone pollution damage as fires do on land, not to mention the need to at least mitigate catastrophic 10, 25 or long overdue 50-100 year floods.
I mostly stay out of such City Hall issues, but thought questions about LBTA’s fate deserved an answer, at least as I see it.
Howard Hills, Laguna Beach
There were three structural reasons the LBTA sitting Board members lost confidence in the organization and resigned. First, the LBTA treasurer refused to produce a current bank statement to show the health of the organization’s operating funds. Second, the LBTA treasurer would not produce a receipt for proof of current liability insurance. Third, despite re-writes and contributions by four current and former board members, a functional copy of the bylaws were never approved leading to Fourth, no procedural disciplinary action taken for rogue members of the organization. Fifth, opposition from the Dark Side was never identified but reside in Laguna Beach. As for successful renewal, maybe next time.