Beyond Gov. Schwarzenegger’s four propositions, Alamo residents have one local measure to vote on in Tuesday’s statewide special election.
Measure S would increase the appropriations limit of R7A, the parks and recreation county service district, to $990,000. R7A, under the Gann Appropriations limit, has a cap on what it can spend.
The committee, which works on recreational programs in Alamo and beautifying the parks, receives its budget from tax revenue. If the committee wants the spending limit to be increased it must go to the voters.
Measure S asks to increase the limit to $990,000, which would reflect changes in the cost-of-living index and population for 2006-07 through 2009-10.
In a written argument for the measure, Alamo resident David Bowlby, a community volunteer who was recently appointed to the San Ramon Valley Planning Commission, wrote: “By voting in favor of Measure S, additional revenues collected will provide for future improvements to such amenities as the Iron Horse Trail, Eastside Creek Trail, Alamo School Sports Park and Hap Magee Ranch. By not approving the limit increase our entire parks and recreation system will suffer greatly ultimately affecting our quality of life and our property values.” The tax revenue collected during the past 24 years has been spent on building and improving facilities such as Livorna Park, Hap Magee Ranch park and Andrew Young Park, he noted.
Opponents to the measure cite dissatisfaction with how the county, particularly District 3 Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, has handled R7A. In light of the recent termination of all members of R7A and Zone 36, the committee on lighting and roadways in Alamo, opponents believe R7A and the money it spends do not reflect the best interests of Alamo.
John Montgomery, one of the terminated members of R7A, does not support Measure S because he believes an increased spending limit would be pointless until the county completes parks and recreation projects that are already on its plate.
“My main issue is the county is not getting the job done that they were slotted to do four to five years ago,” said Montgomery. “Frankly, we don’t need any more money right now. We feel the county has squandered a lot of time.”
