Contra Costa County is looking for a few county residents to serve on its new Measure X advisory board.
The Board of Supervisors decided earlier this month to allow 95 percent of the decision-making over where the 2020 ballot measure’s revenue goes to a 17-person advisory committee of the supervisors’ choosing.
The advisory board would technically only offer recommendations to the board, but an initial proposal capped its purview at 50 percent.
Measure X — a countrywide half-cent sales tax increase — passed in November by an approximate 58-42 percent margin. It’s expected to raise at least $81 million annually over 20 years, beginning April 1.
The funds are slated to keep “Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers; provide timely fire and emergency response; support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential services,” according to the measure’s wording.
The new board will oversee an annual assessment of county needs, focusing on the priorities laid out by Measure X. It will also keep lists of the county’s top service gaps, make priority recommendations, and provide annual reports on the funds’ impact.
Supervisors want people who represent “broad and diverse voices, perspectives and expertise, including but not exclusive to: budget justice advocacy, children’s services, community health, consumer advocacy, faith leadership, senior services, fire and public safety protection, housing and homelessness, labor union representation, legal advocacy, local businesses, mental health services, non-partisan civic organizations, policy organizations, public health, racial justice and equity, safety net services, substance abuse services, taxpayers, and youth services,” according to a press release.
Each of the five county supervisors will select two advisory board members. The other seven will be at-large seats.
Candidates must live or work in Contra Costa. The board will initially meet as needed to develop recommendations, then will meet at least quarterly.
The positions receive no compensation and members will undergo state-required ethics and open meeting laws training. Initial terms will be staggered in two-and-three-year periods, with subsequent appointments lasting three years.
No currently elected or appointed public officials will be eligible. Interview will happen in March, with appointment coming in late March or early April.
Applications are available from the clerk of the board of supervisors, at http://bit.ly/3aUZU7i or by calling (925) 655-2000. Paper applications can be mailed to the County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar St., First Floor, Martinez, CA. 94553. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. March 11.
FIX THE DAMN ROADS!!!
“A 17 person advisory committee of the supervisors
choosing”. That sounds like a formula for some
unbiased, independent decisions……………NOT!
Why even bother to get a bunch of rubber stampers!
“The advisory board would technically only offer recommendations to the board, but an initial proposal capped its purview at 50 percent.” So they wont actually care what is recommended by this board and it will just be a recommendation, they will spend how they see fit and on their projects only. We just gave the supervisors a raise with this
tax” increase they will give themselves.
I vote for rebating it to the 42% of us who didn’t support this money grab…
LOL
What a load of bull manure.
So many people complain about how others are doing things in this county. I wonder how many of those will try to be part of the solution here.
shir – None. It’s easier to sit around and whine and complain than it is to get off their fannies and do something. Remember sitting on ones fanny and complaining rather than being involved is the American way.
The answer is none, it’s easier to sit in front of a keyboard and complain then to do actual work. I include myself in that statement, but at least I can admit it.
So run of the mill people not in any of those listed need not apply.
@Dorothy…..Just tuck your hair up under your hat, go in and ask him “Why?”
He said you look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you’ll do. So I took off my hat, said, “Imagine that. Me, workin’ for you?”
Would like to see the homeless better tended to so they don’t have to spend the rest of their lives in tents on the streets. We seem to have forgotten about them. They are important, too, despite mental health issues. They deserve warmth, shelter, showers and a mini house to live in. They have feelings, too!
I could not disagree with you more. Homeless people are homeless because they want to relieve themselves from the burdens of reality…taxes, working, being responsible etc, etc. Plain and simple. You soft hearted people who want to ‘help’ the homeless by giving them free rides are doing nothing to fix the problem, you only exacerbate it. Wake up!!!
@stoptheinsanity, that might have been true in more prosperous and affluent times but these days with businesses shutting down because the “pandemic” lots of people are losing their jobs, their homes and falling into bankruptcy. You had better hope that something doesn’t happen to you to put you among the tent livers.
@Kathleen
The problem is we are on a first name basis with everyone in todays world yet we really don’t even know each other. “Homeless, Black, White, Mexican, Left, Right, Racist.
Begin to define the person behind any one of those names and then you can address accountability or lack of it. Homeless drug addict and homeless fire victim are from two very different worlds.
They’re relieving themselves in the creek is what they’re doing… and trashing up every place they go. Where is the concern for the environment from all the eco-conscious liberals now?
@stoptheinsanity
Even for claycord, “Homeless people are lazy” is a pretty low effort take
First order of business: Open an Olive Garden
So while we all know that there are many fixes needed in this county …I find it a bit off putting that now that they’ve grabbed the money they have no idea how to actually spend the money. Shouldn’t there have already been a prioritized list of items to be fixed according to need/urgency? Good God…when did politics actually start floundering in the mud ? Rhetorical question … it’s always floundered in the mud.
how many of these have passed in the last twenty years? and yet 58% voted yes? what idiots you are
Not me, I never vote for anything that has $$ attached.
I voted no for this tax increase. Maybe I can help them 😏
So all you perpetual complainers even find fault in the county wanting taxpayer input. Time to get out of your armchairs and do something about the system instead of just whining and insulting
When the supervisors say they are seeking board members using buzzwords like diversity, equity, racial justice, and advocacy, they are seeking people who think and believe the way they do. They don’t want taxpayer input, they want parrots.
You have to look no further than who runs for office these days. Almost all are opportunists in it for the money. Many of those are sociopaths who hate the general public and seek to control them. Good people no longer run for office because someone will dig up something in their past to defame them and probably everyone has something like that in their past.
@walk – you’ve seen what happens when politicians want “citizen input” for their pet projects; they select who will think the same way…. then they can justify their position. Look at Martinez’ latest escapade – they wanted a “diversity panel” (or some such BS); then they decided the applicants weren’t diverse enough, so they disbanded it…..even though it matched the diversity of Martinez.
Until the career politicians have all been kicked to the curb, it ain’t gonna happen.
It’s no different than the bull$hit polls that you see every day – none of them have an iota of intelligence about statistics and sampling.
Taxpayer input is a joke. Cheeseburguesa and Capt Bebops got it right.
Chosen by the supervisors? The likes of Mitchoff and Gioia? You gotta be kidding! The most narcissistic and self-centered of the lot… or have you forgotten their temper tantrums last December?
I just can’t wait to see what they squander it on.
But then they can say they got “community input.”
Effing politicians….
This is how it will go down- The supervisors (and I use the term loosely) will hand pick citizens that think like they do and will support their pet projects. If anyone questions how they are spending our money, they will simply tell us it’s what the advisory board recommended.
volunteer advisors….hmm…you get what you pay for.
@ DID I SAY THAT OUT LOUD : I couldn’t agree with you more. Before hiking taxes, the politicians should know WHY they need to hike them and the voters should be smart enough to vote NO until each need is identified. Unfortunately, we live in an area of unchecked politicians and a herd mentality mind-numb electorate that just goes along with whatever the politicians feed them.
Well said…
Humans and voters tend to have short memories!
I suspect two reasons for this new debacle. With the potential of Newsom being booted out the Demos do not have a link to Biden, Harris and Pelosi to seek funds and influence to maintain CA as a sanctuary state. Without Aunt Nancy connected hopefully the next Governor would be more citizen oriented instead of self-serving and ballot pandering.
Without more funds to maintain sanctuary status what has been accumulated has been “wasted” on road repairs and upgrade, sorely needed upgrade for LE funding, mental health upgrade and more appropiate funding of needs other than shelters, “mental health” ambassador(s), etc.
Let’s not have another voter remorse once Newsom is out!!
The B.S. Supervisors are looking for people dumb or corrupt enough to do their bidding and approve their already hatched plans. Measure X, aptly named, is just one more tax where the money will be used to fill the Black Hole trying to suck people into local and state bankruptcy. I’m getting out of Kleptofornica before it’s too late.
We’ve made the decision to leave. I’ve lived here for 31 years. Things just aren’t going to get better. Going to Texas next month for a scouting trip.
“…and for other essential services….”
In other words, the politicians had NO idea what the priorities were/are when it was passed, but depended on the non-thinking voters of this county (58% are) to vote for it with only feel-good messages.
Now they want citizen input to recommend how to spend it.
Idiot voters elect idiot politicians. You did it to yourselves….