Oppose The North Pacheco Annexation

The Martinez City Council plan to annex North Pacheco to the City is a bad deal for Martinez taxpayers.  It will cost us all money.  The City does not get enough tax income from Martinez now to cover expenses.  Our budget is in deficit. 

This annexation ties us to giving 45% of the sales tax income from North Pacheco and also a very large portion of the property tax to the county forever.  So we make far less in taxes from North Pacheco, which means that we are going to have to subsidize that area with our non-existent surplus from the rest of Martinez.

Miraculously the city consultant comes to the opposite conclusion by a whisker, but their figures are very suspect.  For instance, the consultant does not even include the costs we will incur for providing police services to North Pacheco. 

Those will not be cheap as the consultant’s original report notes “…the high volume of public safety calls currently received from the area…”  (pg. 5.). When a modest amount for police services (approx. 25% of a normal officer’s cost) is included, even the consultant’s figures show a loss.

Further, the City is giving all the development fees on the three major projects in North Pacheco to the county for the next 5 years (estimated at $278,000).

The City Council says we will make a huge profit on the area when we develop it, and they talk about big plans.  But their track record at development does not inspire confidence.  None of the development they have promised in the Downtown or at the Marina has ever occurred, and it has been over ten years now.  So will they be more successful in North Pacheco? 

Indeed, the first big development in North Pacheco is the Pacheco Transit Hub, and that project will bring no property tax or sales tax income to the City.  Plus the City is agreeing to maintain that facility with very sketchy assurance that they will be fully reimbursed for all costs. 

Also no compensation is being offered for the increased street damage from all the bus traffic. Even without figuring those repair and maintenance costs, the consultant estimates that for the first year alone Martinez will run a DEFICIT of $49,781 on public works road maintenance.

This is a bad deal for us and for the folks who live in North Pacheco. 

The Board of Supervisors votes on Tuesday on the tax split agreement.  It is Item C92 on the Consent Calendar, and will be heard at the early part of the meeting. 

We need to speak out.  The meeting starts at 9 AM at the County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107.

If you cannot attend the meeting, e-mail our new Supervisor, Federal Glover atdist5@bos.cccounty.us.

If you live in the Mountain View or Vine Hill areas, or by Viano Vineyards, or in the Midhill Road area, you are next.  This annexation will make all of these areas islands surrounded by Martinez for annexation in the future. 

Further information is available on at www.pachecoannex.com. 

We need to join together to stop this ill-conceived decision.  We cannot afford a mistake like this.