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May 2011 Alamo Parks Spending Limit Election Set for June By Sharon Burke
Contra Costa County Supervisors have placed Measure F on the June 7 ballot, meaning Alamo voters will head to the polls that day where they will be asked to vote on approving an appropriations limit increase for Alamo Parks and Recreation (County Service Area R-7, Zone A). R-7, Zone A, includes all of Alamo except Round Hill Country Club and Round Hill North. Voters will receive their sample ballots the first week in May. A majority of those voting is required for approval. Every four years, the State Constitution allows special district voters (such as Alamo Parks) to adjust the appropriations limit to match tax revenues. These elections are sometimes called “Gann limit” elections after California taxpayer advocate Paul Gann, who championed the proposition that created Gann limits. This is the fourth Gann limit election for Alamo parks in the past ten years. The last one was in November, 2005 when the Gann limit was increased to $990,000. The approval percentage far exceeded the majority required, with 67% voting “yes.” A “yes” vote on Measure F means Alamo Parks will be able to keep its revenue in Alamo for the maintenance and improvement of Alamo parks. It is not a tax increase and will not raise homeowners’ taxes. Gann limits were designed to limit tax jurisdictions to spending no more than allowed by their growth in population and cost of living. Gann limit elections have become rarer in recent years due to declining property tax revenues to jurisdictions and the fact that many jurisdictions in California have grown so rapidly they will never exceed their Gann limit. For instance, the Town of Danville Gann limit is currently $28 million and their budget is around $17 million, leaving a comfortable margin before they would need to hold a Gann limit election. Alamo’s parks property tax revenues grew steadily in the 2000’s necessitating the many Gann limit elections. Although R-7A revenue declined 6% from 2010 to 2011 due to downward property tax reassessments, property tax revenues still grew 22% from 2005 (the last Gann limit election) until now.
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Diablo Valley Quilters By Fran Miller
Serving Alamo and Diablo A Fresh Start By Fran Miller
Fresh Start, a respite and service center for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, is growing and expanding. For most enterprises, this would signify progression and success. But for Fresh Start, expansion is indicative of trying times. “Fresh Start has changed for the better over the last few years, and for better or worse it has grown,” says Executive Director Bill Lunghi. “In other words, Fresh Start serves more participants due to the Great Recession. As more and more Americans are losing their jobs and/or their homes, more people are requiring our services. Moreover, worker/consumer income continues to decline, and the social safety net is simply falling apart.”
A huge thank you card for Abi, (Abi 4th from left) successfully obtained donations of personal care items, over 150 personal care packs she put together for participants at Fresh Start. This was part of her Gold Star Award for Girl Scouts. Pictured l-r, Geoffrey, Bill, Robin, Abi, Billy, Polly.
Lunghi’s wife, Susan Prather, founded Fresh Start in Walnut Creek In today’s society, where instant gratification is the desired norm and ‘faster sixteen years ago. Her compassion, charisma, and unconventional style is always better’ is the reigning philosophy, can a genteel activity requiring skill, served to change the lives of everyone she met. She, in essence, was patience, and artistic creativity survive? If that activity happens to be quilting, the Fresh Start, and when she passed away unexpectedly a few years ago, answer appears to be ‘yes.’ See DVQ continued on page 23 Lunghi took the reigns and has successfully navigated the non-profit through one of the worst economic downturns in recent history. Fresh Start continues to thrive, thanks in large part to its volunteer staff management, administrators and case counselors - who dedicate their lives to helping those less fortunate. A “who’s who” list of Bay Area businesses and individuals provide both financial and meal assistance; Loaves and Fishes, for instance, offers the midday meal free of charge. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, on Trinity Avenue in Walnut Creek, provides the office and communal space. A $250,000 donation, willed to the city of Walnut Creek in 1999 by the late Elizabeth Martin of Rossmoor, allowed Fresh Start Volume XI - Number 5 to operate for 2 ½ years before 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 it became a private non-profit. Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 Velda Newman workshop To this day, Fresh Start has Fax (925) 406-0547 never operated on government Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher PRSRT STD funding. “We operate on the Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com U.S. Postage kindness of both friends and Sharon Burke ~ Writer PAID strangers,” says Lunghi. sburke@yourmonthlypaper.com Permit 263 At Fresh Start, clients find a The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do Alamo CA necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today is not safe and peaceful atmosphere not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor
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does publication imply endorsement.