Sac Bee Op-Ed: Weygandt and Rockholm Comment on Roseville Annexation of Placer Ranch
Posted by: Jeff Flint | 12/16/2007 4:35 PM
In today's Sacramento Bee, Placer County Supervisors Robert Weygandt and "Rocky" Rockholm penned an op-ed responding to the Bee's earlier editorial from November 17, which agreed with Roseville's decision to seek annexation of Placer Ranch. Placer Ranch, a 2,200-acre property in Western Placer County which would be home to up to 5,000 homes, commercial and industrial development, and a Sac State satellite campus of up to 25,000 students.
The Bee argues that city's are better suited to providing the kinds of municipal services that such a development will need, especially in urban and suburban counties like Placer.
In their response today, Supervisors Weygandt and Rockholm disagree, arguing:
The Bee argues that city's are better suited to providing the kinds of municipal services that such a development will need, especially in urban and suburban counties like Placer.
In their response today, Supervisors Weygandt and Rockholm disagree, arguing:
The Bee made some valid points about Roseville's vote to consider annexing Placer Ranch but mistakenly portrayed the county as a bad guy. Nothing could be further from the truth. The editorial missed two critical issues that are important for the public to understand.To read the whole op-ed, please click here.
First, Placer Ranch would need a substantial annual subsidy whether it is developed in unincorporated Placer County or the city of Roseville. A subsidy is needed because the project would feature a campus of California State University, Sacramento, planned to accommodate 25,000 students.
It is important to understand, though, the university and its students would need law enforcement and other services. But the university would not generate enough revenue to offset the costs because public universities do not pay property taxes, the main revenue source for cities and counties.
This discussion did wander a little far afield, so I did want to thank Ms. Montgomery for this...
