PRESS RELEASE
Taxpayers Present Awards in Murphys
The Calaveras County Taxpayers
Association hosted its quarterly luncheon at the Murphys Historic Hotel,
recently, with keynote speaker Congressman
Tom McClintock, who presented Congressional recognition to County Assessor, Leslie Davis. Davis received
the Associations award for Excellence in
Public Service which was presented by Association President Al Segalla. Davis also received recognition from Senator Tom Berryhill and Assemblyman Frank Bigalow which was
presented by their Staff member, Dana
Jorgensen.
The Association also presented a surprise recognition
award to McClintock for his “continued work
promoting Freedom, Prosperity and Constitutional Government
for the people of California and the people
of United States of America”.
Other
surprise recognitions went to Association Directors Kyran Enzi and Steve
Fairchild for their support and dedication to the Association.
The remarks preceding the award to Kyran Enzi
were: “To Kyran Enzi for 5 years of
loyal service to the Association as Secretary, including helping
to organize five annual BBQ s, over 60 Board of Directors
meetings and 15 public Luncheons. This is in addition to serving as president
of the Copperopolis Areas Business Association, all while providing
elder care for her mother, Alice, who quietly passed on January 6,
2013 at the age of 94.”
The Historic Murphys Hotel received
recognition for their support of the Association and providing excellent food
and service at reasonable prices.
Also speaking was Rebecca Callen, County Auditor/Controller, who provided an update
on county financial issues. There was some debate about the new CalPERS
agreement as it relates to “defined benefits”.
Rich
Taborek,
innkeeper, talked about the proposed increase in the Transit Occupancy Tax
which, he said, would provide entitlements to six nonprofit groups without
oversight and also drop public works funding. Rebecca said that the proposed tax increase has not received
proper legal review and is actually illegal as state law requires the Board of
Supervisors to be responsible for local taxation. Other elected public officials
at the meeting concurred with Rebecca.
Tom
McClintock’s
remarks included an update on federal issues and explained the current federal
financial problem by comparing it with “a
family that earns $27,000, but spends $36,000 and has run up a credit card debt
of $165,000 is on the brink of financial ruin. Proportionally, that’s
exactly where our federal government is today.” He authored HR 444 which
would require the President to balance the budget or propose a plan to do so.
