No Tax Increases Are Necessary With Incorporation!

The State Agency responsible for reviewing the financial feasibility of incorporating Oakhurst have declared Incorporation is financially feasible for the next 10 years with NO TAX OR FEE INCREASES.

Currently the Citizens of Oakhurst are Being Overtaxed by Madera County by $1.98 Million per year.

The state’s review of the tax revenues generated in the Oakhurst area and the expenses Madera County incurs providing services to Oakhurst determined that tax revenues exceeded expenses by $1.98 million per year.  The $1.98 Million in tax revenues Madera County is taking from Oakhurst each year can only be legally stopped by incorporating Oakhurst.

The State Review Calls for Budget Surpluses Every Year for the Next 10 years ($5.4 million in excess revenues after revenue neutrality).

Excess revenues have been projected in each of the first 10 years of incorporation after revenue neutrality payments. At the end of the first operational year the projected surplus (net after all expenses and revenue neutrality payments to the county) is $1.2 million dollars.  This total excess revenue, after revenue neutrality payments to the county is projected over the next 10 years to be $5.4 Million dollars.   

Our Tax Dollars Taken by Madera County Will Now Come to Oakhurst.

The agreement we have with Madera County to make them financially whole (crazy state law) under the proposed town budget is to pay them $1 million in excess revenue per year for a maximum of 20 years.  Revenue neutrality is the sharing of the excess tax revenues the county is currently taking from Oakhurst. All BUDGET PROJECTED SURPLUSES ARE AFTER REVENUE NEUTRALITY PAYMENTS. 

The State Review was Intentionally Very Conservative with Upwards of an $11 Million Cushion for any Shortfalls,

The fiscal review conducted for the state was by design very conservative.  This is done to protect the community from any downturn that could affect the financial feasibility of incorporation.  Growing tax revenue far below the current actual levels has resulted in a cushion for the town of upward of $11 million dollars over the ten year forecast.

With Revenue Neutrality we have a 3 year Reopener in Case Costs are Higher Than Projected.

As additional protection against expenses coming in higher than projected, the Town has the right to renegotiate with the county how much of the excess tax revenues we pay them if revenues or expenses are found to be different that County submitted data. 

By Law Taxes cannot be raised by the Town

California state law (including Proposition 13 and Proposition 218) prohibits any tax increase without the approval of the voters.  A Town council does not have the authority to raise taxes, only the citizens have that right.