Meeting Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 10am
The following prepared testimony urges the Imperial County Board of Supervisors to delay the Lithium Excise Tax Funding Plan vote until they fully engage with and gather feedback from the public. The testimony was delivered by ACLU-SDIC Imperial Valley Organizer Daniela Vega on Sept. 10, 2024.
Good morning, Imperial County Board of Supervisors.
My name is Daniela Vega. I’m the Imperial Valley organizer for the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties and a resident of Brawley.
All Imperial Valley residents, especially people in the north end who will be most impacted by lithium extraction, deserve to live in safe, thriving communities. I’m here today to urge this board to table the vote on the Lithium Excise Tax Funding Plan and make a genuine effort to engage with and educate residents on the proposed lithium tax allocations.
On August 29, this board released its proposed plan. Today, just 12 days later, you are gathering to vote on the plan. This is insufficient public notification. Your rushed timeline denies the people you serve a meaningful opportunity to review and provide input on a plan that will significantly impact their lives.
Tabling this vote will demonstrate the board’s commitment to serving your communities and allow time to address critical concerns about the proposed plan.
For example, the plan currently proposes that 60 percent of the tax revenue go to four county departments, including allocations to public safety for operating and maintaining county detention facilities. This does nothing to support Imperial Valley residents, especially people in the north end.
Only 30 percent of the revenue will go to impacted communities. The county's formula for fund allocations—specifically the formula based on population—once again shortchanges the north end when it will be one of the most impacted areas in our county due to its proximity to lithium extraction.
We urge the county to hold accessible workshops after working hours to clearly explain the proposed plan and how allocating these funds to county departments will benefit our communities, especially those in the north end. These sessions must be in plain language, with translated materials and interpretation services.
After these public outreach and education efforts, this board must provide residents opportunities to give documented feedback in after-hours sessions. Directly impacted communities must be prioritized to ensure that tax funds support them for generations to come.
“The ACLU-SDIC urges the board to seize this opportunity to put the needs of communities that will be most impacted by the lithium extraction first. We urge you to table the Lithium Excise Tax Funding Plan vote until robust public engagement and education efforts have been conducted and residents have a chance to provide informed feedback on the plan.”
Thank you for your time.