Conscience or Reality

By Gail Paparian

It seems like we’ve been bombarded with political announcements forever. We had the $80 or-so-million in pre-primary spending. Now we’re into the real deal as we head for the November 2 election. Could the state of California balance its impossible budget if all the well healed spenders contributed to the pot? I don’t know but a couple of hundred million here and a couple of hundred million there would be a start.
There are city council elections in Banning and Beaumont to think about (Note: the Banning chamber is holding its candidates forum on October 6th from 6-8 pm at the Banning city hall. Should you want to see the event “live”- plan to be there early as seating is limited. The good news is it will be replayed frequently on Channel 10 (and I assume the Verizon station.)
Today’s mail brought me my first of the campaign material. As a “decline to state” voter, my mailbox remains blissfully devoid of expensive campaign material. I did receive, however, a well-crafted piece  called “Voter Guide” in reference to Measure U which will appear on the November 2nd ballot.
Approved by the Board of Trustees of the Mt. San Jacinto Community College District, the ballot initiative is named “the San Gorgonio Pass Job Training and Educational Opportunities Bond of 2010 a/k/a Measure U . The bond will endeavor to raise $47 million to construct a local campus to be located south of I-10 on Sunset Avenue in Banning.
According to the flyer, “Voters within the Pass Area including Banning, Beaumont, Cabazon, Calimesa, Cherry Valley and surrounding areas,” will get to vote yea or nay on this issue. The approximate cost to property owners will be $24. per hundred thousand of assessed value (NOT market value). After reading the literature, I can only assume the measure has met all state criteria to be eligible for matching funds?
Here’s my conflict and of course I’m only speaking for myself. I have voted since I was legally able to (actually I went to the Registrar of Voters on my birthday back in New York).  When I became a property owner (non-property-owning voters CANNOT chime in), I have voted for every school bond that has come before me.)
The San Gorgonio Campus of Mt. San Jacinto College would be wonderful! Students would be educated closer to home; those in job transition could be retrained, higher paying jobs could be created for the Pass Area and those in affiliation with the college could choose to move here. All in all, a most positive opportunity. I cherish the idea of moving forward.
Still…. My conscience tells me to vote for Measure U but reality has crept into my life. I think I filed my last property tax bill in the 2009 box. I fear I didn’t want to be reminded of all the things I am charged for… memory says: my house property taxes, school district, San Gorgonio Hospital bonds (likely to be revisited), Pass Water Agency bills (VERY likely to go up and can be done WITHOUT a vote of the people), Banning’s water rates (while not on THIS tax bill, likely to go up as the electric rates already have). I know there are school taxes, landscape district and street lighting things and whatever else that causes me to appropriate several hundred dollars a month to cover my twice yearly tax bill. Because I have chosen to reside in Sun Lakes, there is another service of bills I pay on a monthly basis.
As I noted, I am conflicted. I know what I would like to see happen but I question my ability to foot the bill. While not there yet, even though I just received a 10% increase in my Medicare secondary  insurance and I do not know what other of my “stables” are about to become “unstable”- I am among many people treading the line of what else they  might have to cut out to meet the rising monthly bills.
Still again… communities with colleges within their boundaries benefit. There is the obvious… education for all; from young to older. Nurses, legal technicians, law enforcement are a few professions that come to mind who could be educated within the San Gorgonio Pass. Bringing higher paying jobs here only benefits the local jurisdictions through sales tax, having more people buy homes here and raising the standards to make our communities the best they can be.
The final still… Personally, I will weigh the evidence up until I mark my ballot. Whatever your choice; I entreat you to consider all of the options and then, please--- VOTE INFORMED.