See Also: Index of all Propositions

Currently the Treasurer/Tax Collector of the County of San Diego is elected by the voters of the County to serve a four-year term of office. The current term of the Treasurer/Tax Collector began in January 1999 and ends at noon on January 6, 2003. As explained below, if the voters approve this measure to amend the County Charter, the office of the Treasurer/Tax Collector will change from an elective office to an appointive office, and the new appointive office would become effective at the time the current elected Treasurer/Tax Collector either completes his term of office or leaves office prior to the end of his term.

To adopt this measure the law requires a majority vote in favor of the measure. If adopted, the proposed Charter amendment will not be operative immediately. This is because the current Treasurer/Tax Collector is entitled to serve out his four-year term of office which is set to expire at noon on January 6, 2003. If the current Treasurer/Tax Collector vacates his office prior to that time, the proposed Charter amendment will go into effect before January 6, 2003. Therefore, if the measure is adopted, the proposed Charter amendment will become operative on the earlier of the following two dates:
1. On the date of a vacancy, if any, if the current Treasurer/Tax Collector vacates his office before the expiration of his 1999-2003 term of office; or
2. At noon on January 6, 2003.

In addition to Proposition A, the March 5, 2002 election also includes the primary election for the Treasurer/Tax Collector for a four-year term from January 6, 2003 through January 8, 2007. If Proposition A is approved by a majority vote, there will no longer be an elective office of Treasurer/Tax Collector once the current Treasurer/Tax Collector is no longer serving in his current term of office. A decision by the voters to approve Proposition A will result in the office of the Treasurer/Tax Collector becoming an appointive office, regardless of the results of the March 5, 2002 primary election for Treasurer/Tax Collector.

If this Proposition A is approved by the voters, the new Treasurer/Tax Collector shall be appointed by the County Chief Administrative Officer and will serve at the pleasure of the Chief Administrative Officer. The measure also proposes educational and experience requirements for the Treasurer/Tax Collector, including completion of a baccalaureate degree, at least five years of top tier executive financial management experience, and at least three years of experience as a treasurer, tax collector, or the chief deputy or assistant in those offices, or in a comparable position in a public agency or in the private sector.

ACCOUNTABILITY: The current Treasurer-Tax Collector has mismanaged the office costing tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money in a sexual harassment case in which he has not been held accountable.

The past Treasurer-Tax Collector used retirement funds to pay for 260 trips by the Treasurer and Retirement Board members to places such as Paris, Tokyo, Geneva and Hong Kong.

We need a Treasurer-Tax Collector with strong professional credentials whose investment decisions are subject to close scrutiny and who can be immediately held accountable to the people of San Diego. We need a professional # not a politician who will be held accountable for their actions.

RESPONSIBILITY: Even though more than $3 billion rides on the Treasurer-Tax Collector's investment decisions, there are incredibly few qualifications for the job. This proposal will allow the County's Chief Administrative Officer to hire a Treasurer-Tax Collector with real expertise in financial management and create a comprehensive set of job qualifications with the goal of hiring the most qualified person for the job. We need a professional # not a politician who will be responsible for their actions.

GOOD GOVERNMENT REFORM: The relative obscurity of the position has allowed want-to-be politicians to run for this office. This office is too important to allow someone with little or no qualifications to single-handedly bankrupt our schools and our county. We need a professional # not a politician to invest billions of taxpayer dollars.

We urge you to vote for Accountability. Vote YES on A.

/s/ Ron Roberts
Chairman, San Diego County Board of Supervisors

/s/ Richard Friedland
Member, Business Practices Review Committee

/s/ Wadie P. Deddeh
Senator, Retired

GOOD GOVERNMENT REFORM

Some members of the Board of Supervisors believe that voters don't have the intelligence to make the right choice. Qualified people can and are elected by the voting public. Good government reform gives more power to the people to democratically elect their leaders, especially when their financial futures are at stake. The issue should not be personalities!

RESPONSIBILITY

The sponsors of Proposition A want you to believe that it will create a new set of job qualifications. In 1996 California passed SB816, making Treasurer-Tax Collectors meet more requirements than any other office in the State. The"new" local requirements are simply a remix of the current law. A political appointment will not make the position more accountable; just take control away from taxpayers.

ACCOUNTABILITY

In Orange County, it was the Board of Supervisors and their APPOINTED "Treasurer" who filed for bankruptcy and cost the taxpayers billions of dollars. In San Diego County, it was the APPOINTED members of the Retirement Board who have used retirement funds to pay for 260 trips to exotic locations.

We need an independently elected Treasurer-Tax Collector to avoid political tampering with school and retirement funds.

KEEP OUR INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR TO SAFEGUARD SCHOOL AND RETIREMENT FUNDS!

LET THE BOARD KNOW WE ARE SMART ENOUGH TO DECIDE WHO BEST REPRESENTS US!

Vote NO on Proposition A

/s/ April Boling, CPA
Vice President San Diego County Taxpayers Association

/s/ Mark R. Beveridge
President, Local 2744

/s/Ron Cottingham
President, Deputy Sheriffs Association of San Diego County

/s/ Mary Grillo
Executive Director, Local 2028 SEIU, AFL-CIO

/s/ Bill Horn
Supervisor

Keep the Treasurer-Tax Collector an elected position NOT an appointed bureaucrat

Some members of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors want Proposition A passed so they can pick the County Treasurer-Tax Collector instead of letting us decide at the voting booth.

PROTECT YOUR VOTE

Since 1850 taxpayers have elected the County Treasurer-Tax Collector. This is the case in 55 of 58 California counties. Proposition A would take away our democratic right to choose who handles your tax dollars, and allow the County Board of Supervisors to decide for us!

KEEP IT INDEPENDENT

By appointing the Treasurer-Tax Collector, the Board of Supervisors would gain control of the County Employees Retirement System by appointing a majority of the members on the Retirement Board. They would also be able to influence the investment of money belonging to our local school districts. Proposition A would eliminate the independence that currently protects both the Retirement System and school funds.

KEEP IT HONEST

An appointed Treasurer-Tax Collector will be accountable to the Board of Supervisors. The County Board will essentially be allowed to audit their own books. Proposition A will eliminate our voice on how tax dollars are used!

STANDARDS ALREADY EXIST

In 1996 California passed SB816 that requires the Treasurer-Tax Collector to meet more requirements than any other office in the State. Proposition A will not make the Treasurer-Tax Collector position more credible than it already is!

LET THE POLITICIANS KNOW THAT WE ARE SMART ENOUGH TO DECIDE WHO WILL COLLECT TAXES AND INVEST PUBLIC FUNDS

KEEP THE COUNTY TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR INDEPENDENT AND ACCOUNTABLE TO US!

JOIN A COALITION OF BUSINESS LEADERS, LABOR, AND THE INDEPENDENT SAN DIEGO COUNTY TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION OPPOSED TO PROPOSITION A

VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION A

/s/ Bill Horn
Supervisor

/s/ Ron cottingham
President, Deputy Sheriff's Association

/s/ Mary Grillo
Executive Director SEIUL-2028

/s/ Mark R. Beveridge
President, International Association of Firefighters Local 2744

/s/ Mary E. Ball
President, San Diego County Taxpayers Association

THE TIME FOR REFORM IS NOW . . .

We need to change our outdated system. We need to bring accountability to the job. This initiative will allow the hiring of a professional financial expert to manage your money.

This office is far too important to allow someone with little or few qualifications to bankrupt our county and schools.

We need a Treasurer/Tax Collector with strong professional credentials whose investment decisions are subject to close scrutiny and who can be immediately held accountable to the people of San Diego. We need a professional # not a politician, who will be held accountable for their actions.

Please vote YES on Proposition A

YES for Accountability

/s/ Ron Roberts
Chairman, San Diego County Board of Supervisors

/s/ Richard Friedland
Member, Business Practices Review Committee

/s/ Wadie P. Deddeh
Senator, Retired