Tuesday, August 8, 2006 10:22 PM PDT

Extra revenue should go to water, energy projects

Recently I attended a meeting of local officials and interested citizens in which the word "tax" was not uttered. There was talk of money, lots of money, but it was to be spent exactly like the taxpayers were promised.

In 1962, Placer County voters approved bonds to build the American River Middle Fork Project to provide electricity and water to Placer residents, providing power to 100,000 homes and major county water needs.

In 2013, those bonds will be paid off, and Placer County and Placer County Water Agency will have annually some $15 million to $100 million in revenue to spend.

County Supervisor Bruce Kranz is proposing that these funds be spent on water, water quality and to upgrade energy projects - exactly what the citizens voted for in 1962.

Kranz argues that without controls, these funds could be spent indiscriminately. That would be a violation of the trust taxpayers have placed in the hands of elected officials.

I urge taxpayers to support Supervisor Kranz in protecting these public assets. Let's prevent these windfall revenues from becoming a slush fund for paying off special interest pork and re-electing politicians.

Instead, use the revenues for clean water, water supplies and energy and related infrastructure projects we otherwise could not afford except through future tax and fee increases.

Wally Reemelin

President, League of Placer

County Taxpayers

Auburn