San Andreas, CA…Three new shows have been uploaded to YouTube and can be accessed at CalaverasTaxpayers.org. “Taxpayer Alert” is a public service effort by volunteers and sponsored by the Calaveras County Taxpayers Association and the Public Access Television Studio. The programs are also viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 7. Taxpayer Alert invites public officials and experts to review current issues and hot button topics. At election time, candidate forums are video taped for public information.

These forums are usually co-hosted with the Calaveras Enterprise which also provides a moderator. 

Cliff Edson, Supervisor

Cliff discusses many issues, including fast tracking county approvals for certain projects; Chamber revitalization with the new Director, Stacey Johnson; the possibility of having a freedom friendly General Plan; finalizing the General Plan first and doing the community plans later (some local plans are complete now); how reducing the burden of regulation tends to  increase prosperity; watershed is a huge asset and a new Watershed Management Program is waiting for grant funding. Ideas are shared about the county seeking “customer” feedback on performance and creating a location map to help applicants find departments.

Dennis Mills, CCWD Director

Dennis covers many hot button issues, including the struggle to create New Melones reservoir against the Wild & Scenic movement; the government  forcing draining the lakes for fish flow and Tri Dam refusing to comply; little known harmful effects of reducing flow in pipelines; Wild and Scenic on the Mokelumne river; CCWD success in substantially reducing state water reduction requirements; organizing water districts to work together to better serve their ratepayers. Also discussed were the new Economic Development Company workshops and CCWD joining the Tuolumne-Stanislaus Integrated Regional Water Management Authority.  This is the third interview with Dennis with each one providing more insight into current public concerns.

Rebecca Callen, Auditor/Controller

Rebecca covers a wide range of issues, including a problem with Supervisors voting for their own retirement; limitations on contracting out government services; postponing debt reduction; unfunded CalPERS liability of $47 million which would have to be paid off if the county wished to change systems, and why public employees cost the taxpayer so much more than private employees.

For those who do not have Calaveras Cable TV, or are out of the area, previously aired programs are uploaded to YouTube and can be accessed online. If you are reading this online, there are links to the three programs above and 38 past episodes at CalaverasTaxpayers.org.