2008 Woodie Awards
Road tax supported
Katherine J. White
Issue date: 9/27/06 Section: News
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For once, it almost seems like the Elephant and the Donkey can co-exist.
It appears they can on at least one measure due to appear on the upcoming Nov. 7 election ballot.
Bakersfield Republicans are supporting a tax increase in the form of Measure I, which will be on the November ballot this year. However, many Democrats favor this measure as well.
Measure I, as described by Cheryl Scott, vice president of the Kern Economic Development Corporation, will be a half-cent sales tax, which will go toward transportation projects including improvement of streets, roads and highways.
Scott described her group, Kern Economic Development Corporation, as a "non-partisan group" with members who go "across the board" in terms of political party affiliations.
"Most Republicans are supportive of this measure," said Mark Abernathy, Republican consultant in Kern County and an elective member of the Republican Party in Kern County. "Of course, this may seem odd because Republicans are for lower taxes most of the time.
However, this particular issue is a good one because if Measure I passes, Kern County will be designated as a 'self-help county,' and the state prefers to work with 'self-help counties.' They (the state) say, 'They (the self-help county) put up money, so we (the state) can, too.'"
Abernathy stressed other reasons why Republicans like Measure I.
"With this measure," Abernathy said, "Republicans know where their money is going. The money is earmarked for roads in Kern County. The third reason is that there's what's known as a "sunset provision" with this measure.
The "sunset provision" means that this measure will go for 20 years, and then could be renewed. If not, then the tax would not continue like it does with measures that don't have the provision.
Scott, whose group concentrates mainly on bringing "new businesses to Kern County and to help develop older ones as well," says that Kern EDC is "part of a larger committee promoting Measure I."
It appears they can on at least one measure due to appear on the upcoming Nov. 7 election ballot.
Bakersfield Republicans are supporting a tax increase in the form of Measure I, which will be on the November ballot this year. However, many Democrats favor this measure as well.
Measure I, as described by Cheryl Scott, vice president of the Kern Economic Development Corporation, will be a half-cent sales tax, which will go toward transportation projects including improvement of streets, roads and highways.
Scott described her group, Kern Economic Development Corporation, as a "non-partisan group" with members who go "across the board" in terms of political party affiliations.
"Most Republicans are supportive of this measure," said Mark Abernathy, Republican consultant in Kern County and an elective member of the Republican Party in Kern County. "Of course, this may seem odd because Republicans are for lower taxes most of the time.
However, this particular issue is a good one because if Measure I passes, Kern County will be designated as a 'self-help county,' and the state prefers to work with 'self-help counties.' They (the state) say, 'They (the self-help county) put up money, so we (the state) can, too.'"
Abernathy stressed other reasons why Republicans like Measure I.
"With this measure," Abernathy said, "Republicans know where their money is going. The money is earmarked for roads in Kern County. The third reason is that there's what's known as a "sunset provision" with this measure.
The "sunset provision" means that this measure will go for 20 years, and then could be renewed. If not, then the tax would not continue like it does with measures that don't have the provision.
Scott, whose group concentrates mainly on bringing "new businesses to Kern County and to help develop older ones as well," says that Kern EDC is "part of a larger committee promoting Measure I."
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