The people of Tehachapi are being double taxed by a new road development fee.  This "development fee" (tax) is a $4,777 dollar tax for each home built in the Tehachapi area.  The road tax was passed by the Kern County Board of Supervisors and only for Tehachapi.  Why only Tehachapi and not other towns in Kern County?  This fee will be passed on to consumers from large developers and for the one time home builder this is a huge potentially project killing tax increase.  
     Why did our board supervisor Maben allow this new tax with the county wide sales tax increase for roads coming up on the November ballot?   If this November ballot tax increase passes Tehachapi tax payers will pay more for our roads than any other city in the county. 
     Tehachapi area citizen's tax payments already go towards roads.  Why then are we to pay additional taxes for roads if we are to build a house?  If you already live in the Tehachapi area and building on land already owned why should you have to pay this fee to build your home? Even if you are new to the area a portion of your county taxes already go towards road development. 
    We need to ensure that money collected stays in Tehachapi.  I think this new tax disguised as a development fee is wrong and potentially illegal.  I would like the public to question where and how the money collected from Tehachapi development will be spent.   
     Please anyone who is tired of our local governments taking more money out of your pocket write or call Don Mabens office and demand a stop to this tax .  If you are already a home owner and do not plan to build you should also have concern this is a tax that will affect you.  We need to demand action for our money.   
    Supervisor Don Maben was quoted as saying "the development fee will curb urban sprawl in Tehachapi"  This is totally untrue it is merely a way to take more money from the public as no one will give up on building a dream only pay more and large builders will pass costs on to you.   The county coffers are the only winner in this situation.

Please copy this letter and send it to friends and family. email it, print it, give it to friends, post it at your office,  tell anyone you know that we are double taxed for roads and need action. 

Write or call Don Maben and demand accountability
661-868-3660
distric2@co.kern.ca.us