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The controversial San Bernardino County Measure D, on which Morongo Basin residents will vote upon in November, is a manifestation of a long-simmering campaign by the County’s ruling body, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to overturn a salary cap and term limits.
2022’s Measure D has its roots in 2020 county ballot measure, called Measure K. In November 2020, more than two-thirds of San Bernardino county voters approved a ballot initiative, called K that slashed annual compensation for the County Supervisors from roughly $250,000 to $60,000 and set a term limit to a single four-year stint.
The County Board of Supervisors filed a lawsuit attempting to block Measure K from taking effect, and after passing through several courts, the measure was ultimately upheld. Measure D was created by the County Board of Supervisors after the decision.
Just before the Board votedon Measure D on August 8, Mike Lipsitz filed this report.
Cleverly labeled as a “Taxpayer Protection and Government Reform” amendment to the county charter, in plain English item 61 aims to invalidate the voter-approved reforms of Measure K.
Item 61 will surely be approved tomorrow, but as with any change to the county charter, voters will have the final say at the next election. And following item 61 on tomorrow’s agenda is item 62. That’s the one that threatens to make San Bernardino County the 51st state if Sacramento doesn’t send more money our way.
In a brief but important aside, County Measure K, which was passed in 2020, has nothing to do with Yucca Valley’s Measure K, which is on this year’s ballot. The Yucca Valley Measure D is related to taxing vacation rentals.
In September, Tom Murphy, of the county government watchdog Red Brennan Group sat down with Z107.7s Gary Daigneault on Z107.7’s Up Close Show to discuss the county’s Measure D.
Your listeners, their tax dollars are paying for the county supervisors to overturn that two-thirds vote. The campaign to support Measure D has also come under fire recently. Mailers sent out made claims that the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which has spearheaded several anti-tax ballot initiatives, was in support of Measure D. Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, has said that his organization has not offered any endorsement or support of Measure D.
Mike Lipsitz has more:
“Yes on D to fix roads and create jobs” claims one mailer, but you’ll not find reference to either in the ballot measure. “Measure D will require voter approval for any tax increase” claims another ad, but that’s already state
law.
“They are masking their self-serving measure with images of Howard Jarvis, Ronald Reagan, and claims that Measure D is a ‘new Prop 13…,’”
Coupal said. “But Measure D isn’t a new Prop. 13, it’s a ploy by special interests and career politicians to stay in power longer,” he added.
A statement from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association reports that Measure D doesn’t contain the taxpayer protections for which it claims credit. The association has issued one of two cease and desist letters to the Yes on Measure D campaign.
Ultimately, the merits of San Bernardino County’s Measure D will be determined by county voters.
This station will also be providing full County and Local election coverage from now until November 8. Stay tuned to Z107.7 for everything you need to know.
