TAXPAYER GROUP SUPPORTS JAIL TAX MEASURE

Sheriff Jim Thomas says he has received a strong show of support for the
Public Safety Sales Tax measure once he has the chance to meet people
face-to-face and discuss its need and purpose.

The Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association is the latest organization
to show support of the measure, which, if passed in the March election by a
two-thirds majority, would fund the construction of a new 400-bed North
County jail and 120-bed Juvenile Hall, renovate existing facilities, and
fund correctional programs through a sales tax.

The measure calls for a half-cent sales tax for five years to fund
construction costs and then a permanent quarter-cent sales tax thereafter
to pay for operating costs of facilities. The half-cent sales tax over five
years is expected to generate about $116.9 million necessary to fund the
construction of new facilities and renovation of existing facilities.

Thomas has said the new jail in North County has become necessary because
of overcrowding in the current Goleta jail. The overcrowding has resulted
in the early release of more than 1,200 inmates since June from the Goleta
facility who have committed non-violent crimes.

Joe Olivera, president of the taxpayers association, signed an argument in
favor of the measure, known as Measure U2000. Arguments written for and
against the measure, along with a copy of the measure, and rebuttals to the
arguments were made public Tuesday and can be viewed for 10 days following
Tuesday at county elections offices in Lompoc, Santa Maria and Santa Barbara.

"The board (of the taxpayer's association) met several weeks ago with
Sheriff Jim Thomas and voted unanimously for the sales tax," Olivera said.

He said the association has several reasons for endorsing the measure,
including that the monies generated from the tax would help prevent the
early release of inmates from the Goleta jail, and it would reduce the
nearly $276,000 annual cost of transporting prisoners from the main Goleta
facility to North County courtrooms. The measure would also be void of any
long-term debt.

"The taxpayers association is not against all taxation - we are against
unfair taxation or unnecessary taxation," Olivera said. "This tax spreads
the cost evenly among all citizens in Santa Barbara County. There very
definitely is a need (for the new facilities)."

Also, members of the taxpayers association asked Sheriff Thomas and county
auditor-controller Bob Geis if they could get approval from county
supervisors for an audit to occur after the five year half-cent sales tax
and every five years thereafter "to determine if the funds would be
available to drop the (permanent) quarter-cent sales tax," Olivera said.

Thomas said Wednesday that supervisors approved this suggestion at their
Dec. 7 meeting.

"It was (the taxpayers association's) suggestion and we thought it was a
good idea," Thomas said. "They believe this tax is important and necessary.
I wasn't surprised at all because we had time to spend with them and
explain the issues.

"If we could talk to every voter in Santa Barbara County, there's no doubt
in my mind that this thing would pass hands down."

However, there have been arguments and rebuttals filed in opposition to the
measure. An argument against the measure has been endorsed by Republican
Central Committee members Gregory Gandrud and A.J. Tarman; Ken Owen, former
chairman of the Democratic Central Committee; and Colin Hayward, chairman
of the Libertarian Central Committee.

Gandrud said Thursday that he and A.J. Tarman have signed arguments against
the measure as individuals, and that the Republican Central Committee is
remaining neutral on the issue.

He said there are several reasons he is not backing the new measure.

"I really do support law and order," Gandrud said. "But I think there are
too many of the wrong people in jail right now. There are people who are
behind bars who are guilty of nothing more than possession of drugs ... and
are no threat to society. They'd probably benefit more from treatment than
being placed behind bars."

Also, Gandrud said that "the government needs to make due with the money
we've already given them." He said that last year the state budget had a
surplus of $4 billion, and that this money rightfully belongs to the counties.

Thomas said he knew there would be opposition to the measure.

"I don't begrudge people for having their own opinions," Thomas said. "It's
just that I think their opposition is not based on the reality of today.

"I don't think we have the luxury to sit and wish that the state will give
us back money. I deal in the real world. And in the real world, convicted
criminals are walking out the front door of the Goleta jail every day."