City Needs to Use RDA Funding for Sewer Charges
City Needs to Use RDA Funding for Sewer Charges
Editor,
There is an alternative to imposing the outrageous sewer charges that the city of Hollister is proposing to implement.
Some years ago the city established a Redevelopment Agency to cure supposed “blight” in portions of the city. The Redevelopment Agency (RDA) was to skim off the city’s share of property taxes on new construction and tax increases resulting from sales of property.
The RDA has a secure funding mechanism in place that should satisfy potential bond purchasers. The citizens of Hollister should demand that the RDA shelve all of its plans for future projects, and divert its hefty, yearly grab of property tax money to pay for the single most important project for the future of this city: the new sewage plant.
This city is strangling under the imposition of the sewerage moratorium. We don’t need any more cutesy colored awnings on San Benito Street, we don’t need any more big, red, Chinese dragons on Sixth Street; we don’t need any more pretty, but empty, farmers’ and merchants bank buildings on Fifth Street. Hollister needs a modern sewer plant and the RDA is the funding vehicle to make that happen. Until the bonds for the new plant are repaid in full, the RDA should be reduced to one clerk to account for the property tax monies collected.
Beyond that the RDA should exist on paper only to fund the new sewer plant together with existing RDA obligations.
John Buchanan
Hollister
DMB Project is One the Community Should Support
Editor,
When I first heard of DMB and Rancho San Benito I had a lot of reservations about their development. I attended their meetings and asked specific questions about the infrastructure and the effect of the economy on Hollister. Those questions were answered to my satisfaction and I found that there was a willingness to listen to all the concerns of mine and those of the community.
In addition I researched via the internet their developments in other areas and found the communities to be first class. I urge anyone with questions or concerns to contact Ray Becker or one of their staff members at www.elranchosanbenito.com or 831-635-5910. This is a project that I support and feel that it will be an asset to our community.
Sandy Rose,
Hollister
