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Articles Tagged With ‘Taxes’




Paso water rate boost appears headed to voters

Written on 4 Mar, 2009 in Uncovered SLO | One comment

By DANIEL BLACKBURN Paso Robles city officials’ hopes for carefree financing of future water supplies may have gone down the drain Tuesday, and proponents of an elevated water tax now face a precarious ballot challenge. Representatives of a citizens group presented Assistant... (Continue reading)

Living large on Atascadero taxpayers’ dime

Written on 2 Mar, 2009 in Uncovered SLO | 6 comments

By KAREN VELIE After proclaiming a looming fiscal crisis and predicting municipal worker layoffs, Atascadero City Manager Wade McKinney and city taxpayers treated a group of upper level employees to a three-day excursion at an upscale Carmel Valley resort. But before heading... (Continue reading)

Developer blames downturn in the market

Written on 7 Feb, 2009 in Uncovered SLO | One comment

Robert Fowler forgot to pay some taxes on his 100 acre property near the Santa Margarita Ranch development. In 2005, at the top of the market, Fowler failed to pay $619,000 in taxes and penalties. While Tom Daschle threw his... (Continue reading)

BULLETIN: $8 million claim hits Paso water plans

Written on 9 Jan, 2009 in Uncovered SLO | One comment

A group of North County residents has filed a claim against the city of Paso Robles to recover $8 million in water and sewer fees they say has been improperly levied against property owners and ratepayers for the past six... (Continue reading)

PERILS OF PASO: Grand theft auto?

Written on 4 Jan, 2009 in Uncovered SLO | 6 comments

FIRST IN A SERIES By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN A steady drumbeat of complaints target alleged predatory towing practices by the Paso Robles Police Department and two towing companies, Alliance and Pete Johnson. Law enforcement, city officials, and reporters have been informed... (Continue reading)

Is Paso’s water levy lawful?

Written on 24 Oct, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 2 comments

Howard Jarvis alliance says no, no, no By DANIEL BLACKBURN An influential statewide taxpayer group views elements of Paso Robles’ proposed water rate increase as unlawful and unconstitutional, and is “strongly” advising city officials to take a different funding path. Findings of the... (Continue reading)

Paso’s costly water project just a backdoor tax?

Written on 31 Aug, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | 9 comments

By DANIEL BLACKBURN A multi-million-dollar Paso Robles water project funded by fattened water rates has pitted two mayoral candidates against one another and the conflict’s outcome could impact North County development for years to come. City officials have decided to saddle water... (Continue reading)

COMMENTARY: Protecting property, saving the democracy

Written on 4 Feb, 2008 in Uncovered SLO | One comment

By DANIEL BLACKBURN One of the quickest ways to jettison our individual freedom is to allow the diminution of property rights – even the property of others. If ever there was a true united-we-win, divided-we-lose situation facing local voters, it... (Continue reading)