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ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE "A" <br />Vote yes on "A" — Protect local community services, including clean <br />drinking water programs, with no tax increase. Riverside residents <br />already enjoy the lowest water rates in the Inland Empire - Measure "A" <br />won't increase your water rates! <br />Riverside voters have already voted three times to allow our <br />publicly -owned water utility to transfer a small, fixed percentage of its <br />water fund revenues into the fund used by the City for essential services <br />we all rely on: reliable, clean drinking water; 9 -1 -1 emergency response; <br />fire /police protection; after - school programs; senior /disabled services. <br />Yes on "A" reaffirms previous voter authorizations to maintain our <br />services. <br />Yes on "A" protects our local supply of clean drinking water, keeping it <br />free from contamination. And we'll continue to enjoy some of the lowest <br />water rates in the Inland Empire! <br />Yes on "A" maintains 9 -1 -1 rapid response times for <br />paramedics /firefighters — 60% of Riverside's 9 -1 -1 calls require <br />emergency medical attention! Doctors agree: minutes mean the <br />difference between life and death after serious trauma. <br />Yes on "A" funds police officers who keep gangs out of Riverside. With <br />15,000 gang members in Riverside County alone, we can't afford to vote <br />no! <br />Yes on "A" maintains after - school and summer camp programs for <br />4,000+ Riverside children /youth — keeping them off the streets and out of <br />trouble. <br />Keep Riverside a community where you want to live and raise your <br />family! We've dramatically reduced crime and improved local <br />infrastructure — but without the funding provided by Measure "A ", <br />essential services will be cut, potentially increasing gangs, graffiti and <br />rundown streets. <br />Measure "A" includes tough accountability, requiring independent <br />financial audits, public review of expenditures, and ensuring all funds <br />stay local. <br />Join local firefighters, police officers, ER doctors, and community leaders <br />in voting yes on "N'— Protect your services without raising taxes. <br />Questions? Visit www.riversideca.gov. <br />By: Timothy D. Strack, <br />President, Riverside City Firefighters Association <br />Brian C. Smith, <br />President, Riverside Police Officers Association <br />Dr. Steven Kim, <br />Emergency Department Medical Director, <br />Riverside Community Hospital <br />Hon. Ron Loveridge, <br />Fmr. Mayor of Riverside <br />REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE "A" <br />Sixteen years ago, voters passed Proposition 218 which voided the City <br />Charter authorization to make an 11.5% General Fund Transfer of Water <br />Utility revenue. Measure "A" asks voters to continue the General Fund <br />Transfer (GFT) but not as a tax measure as required by Prop. 218. <br />Prop 218 defines the GFT as a tax! <br />Tell our city officials to be honest about taxes and to not resort to scare <br />tactics to grab your money. Vote no! <br />Many voters in Ward 4 do not receive water service from the city. They <br />will vote on this measure and will not be subject to the GFT. You will be <br />taxed for their services! Vote no! <br />The city's 4- tiered water rate scheme further drives your water bill up so <br />you are paying more taxes than you should! Vote no! <br />Double Taxation — Measure "A" adds a new tax on top of the 6.5% Utility <br />Users' Tax creating an effective tax rate of 18.5% on your water bill! Vote <br />no! <br />When the city needs cash they will simply raise the water rates and more <br />of your $$$ flows into the General Fund. Vote no! <br />The proposed GFT each year is only 2.8% of the General Fund Budget! <br />The city will not go bankrupt if you Vote no! <br />We will still have the same level of library, after school programs, 911, fire <br />and police protection! Vote no! <br />This is not about water quality. Vote no! <br />www.noonmesureariverside.com <br />By: Scott Simpson, <br />Resident <br />Dvonne M. Pitruzzello, <br />Riverside Citizens Against Measure "A" <br />33- 9001 -M2 <br />