Poll: Little support for bay tax measure

A majority of respondents in an online Argus-Courier poll said they would not vote for a $12 per year parcel tax to pay for San Francisco Bay wetland restoration and flood control projects. About 70 percent said that they were not in favor of the parcel tax measure, while 30 percent said they supported it.

Here are some of the comments:

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“As much as I love the Bay Area wetlands, another form of taxation is not the answer. Where does that money go? How do we the tax payers keep track of the money spent? No more taxes.”

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“As much as I support the wetlands, I pay way too much in property tax as it is, thanks to all the school measures. When my property tax is 10 times what my next door neighbor pays, that’s way out of balance.”

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“A vote for Yes is a vote to sustain life - plants, birds, flowers, and much more - that will disappear without the passage of this measure.”

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“Only if you remove some of the school taxes and make it a break-even. I don’t have kids, and would rather not have to pay for the education of the offspring of others. At the same time, everyone benefits from a much broader benefit provided by these essential environmental protections now. Additionally, I see it as a protection which will eventually also benefit today’s children who will be the adults of tomorrow.”

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“California already has the highest income taxes in the U.S. Now everyone wants to increase property taxes.”

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“For $1 a month, we’d be fools not to vote to restore our bay to protect ourselves.”

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“Healthy wetlands are important for preventing floods during storm surges that will become much more frequent with climate change. Petaluma is the most vulnerable city in Sonoma County to rising sea levels. It breaks my heart to know that unless a lot more is done to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases we will lose our downtown to flooding during the lives of our children.”

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“How about just leave the wetlands alone. They will protect themselves, at no charge.”

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“I am a former Urban-Gorilla-Girl New Yorker. I love, and use, the pathways of the wetlands. We need to preserve and keep those treasures. As a homeowner, I am more than willing to contribute to such a cause.”

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“I believe the wetlands are vital to the future of Sonoma County agriculture and clean water.”

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“I don’t care what the cause is. No more property tax burdens. No more sales tax increases.”

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“I would not vote for it as currently written. This is shaping up like the Petaluma road repair/resurfacing mess. Taxpayer money should only be used for the wetlands restoration, nothing else.”

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“I would vote for this measure to protect our precious wetlands. And, I’d be happy to pay the small amount added to my property tax.”

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“Naturally I will support this, and hope it is enough to turn the tide to preserve the integral functioning of this foundational aspect of our region. I am delighted that we are beginning to make common society with the rest of life with initiatives such as this one. Surely, success in human affairs is possible over the long run only when we act to support the health of the whole.”

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“Never. Too much tax is paid already. Why did we have a revolution in the first place? Can you say Boston Tea Party? No new taxes.”

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“Stop looking to taxes as free money for everything. Those who want the money should start a fund and solicit money from the like-minded.”

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“Property taxes are already nearly pricing me out of Petaluma.”

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“Start paying for it now in small increments or pay through the nose later when it’s an emergency.”

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“This is a no-brainer.”

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“This tax is a sham. They say it is to protect cities from rising waters due to global warming. Then what would we be spending money on expanding bicycle and walking tours on public land, new visitors centers, projects on Tolay Creek, and on and on. This is just a big money grab by the environmentalists for all their pet projects on a grand scale. We pay enough taxes already. Feinstein and the like live in another universe and have no idea how all the taxes affect us. Let them find the money for their pet projects somewhere else.”

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“We are already gouged by taxes here and the quality of life is still horrible.”

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“We are taxed to death as it is.”