Opinion

Before supervisors think about asking countywide taxpayers to fork over more of their hard-earned money in an attempt to help solve their deficit problems, the officials should examine prospects for a “catch-up tax” that would put the county's sales tax for unincorporated areas on par with that of Hollister.

Question of the week: Did the referees rob the 49ers in the Super Bowl on the fourth and goal play at the end?

The local transit agency's long-term budget plan is a fantasy wish list, so talk of creating a so-called “vehicle miles traveled tax” to fund its massive, self-created shortfall should be viewed from the same fictional perspective.

The Williamson Act, more formally the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, is a property tax break for rural landowners that cost state taxpayers about $400 million in the 11 years from 1998 through 2009. The state subventions (grants) covering the costs of those tax breaks ended in 2009, and since then the financially strapped county has borne the full burden of $750,000 a year or more than $3 million total.

Question of the week: If you had a son now, would you discourage him from playing football?

Panelists answered the following question this week: Would you support the use of a tax, to fund transportation matters, based on the number of miles a vehicle has driven?

San Juan Bautista City Manager Roger Grimsley is wise to support lifting the ban against chain businesses, and he also happens to be the right man for the job of eliminating it.  The historic city tucked along the Highway 156 corridor established a ban in December 2002 as an urgency ordinance, while San Juan officials renewed it three times since then, with a minor adjustment in the latest version of the law allowing “formula” businesses only if they fulfill unmet needs among existing businesses.