Portola Valley: Tax opponent threatens action against council Portola Valley: Tax opponent threatens action against council (January 25, 2006)

** A leader of an anti-tax group wants windfall returned to taxpayers.

By David Boyce

Almanac Staff Writer

One of the leaders of a group that nearly defeated the Portola Valley utility tax in the November election is threatening the Town Council with unspecified action should the council not return a recent windfall to taxpayers.

"This excess money belongs to the Portola Valley taxpayer," said resident Bill Henderson at the January 11 council meeting.

The money is $915,000 in property tax revenue that San Mateo County recently decided it owed Portola Valley. Future annual payments of about $450,000 are expected, including one before summer.

The council is considering stashing the $915,000 in reserves, and maybe spending some of it for a new town newsletter, but lowering the utility tax to compensate for future payments from the county.

Holding onto the $915,000 didn't sit well with Mr. Henderson, whose group has a Web site, pvTrojanHorse.com.

"Some of you seem to be moving in the direction of 'Let's just keep this money,'" he told the council.

If the council fails to act "very soon, we will be forced to take the appropriate steps to force you to make a decision," he said.

Mr. Henderson declined to specify what actions the group might take.

The council did not respond to his remarks, but set a meeting for 8 p.m. Wednesday, January 25, to discuss what to do about the windfall and the utility tax.

The anti-tax group fought renewal of the utility tax last fall in part because funds were being used for a Town Center rebuilding project that members of the group oppose.

Voters renewed the tax, but by an unusually narrow 4 percent margin.

Utility tax revenues total about $600,000 a year, and they are mostly used for operating expenses.
MEETING

The Portola Valley Town Council is seeking community comment on what to do with a $915,000 windfall in property tax revenues. A discussion is set for the 8 p.m. meeting of the council on Wednesday, January 25, in the Historic Schoolhouse at 765 Portola Road.

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