This Herald-Sun story about money spent by the two main citizen groups engaged in the debate over Orange County’s land transfer tax ballot question appears to accurately report the groups’ expenditures as detailed in their first quarter reports.
According to the story, the anti-tax group Citizens for a Better Orange County spent $156,376, a figure the reporter has decided is a “whopping” amount.
The story goes on to report that the pro-tax group Citizens for Schools and Parks spent “about $841.”
There appears to be a huge disparity. However, in 775 words, the appropriation of taxpayer dollars by Orange County to be used in this fight — as much as $110,000 — isn’t mentioned until the final 100 words.
Clearly, Orange County officials want this transfer tax to pass. Thus, a fair portrayal of money being used in this election effort would include this $110,000 figure much higher in the story.
Bottom line: Is the story an accurate portrayal of the finances being used in this effort? I say no, and I wonder how this made it by an editor.
For information on all sides of this debate, here are resources:
You’ll find the county’s Web site here.
You’ll find the anti-tax Web site of Citizens for a Better Orange County here.
You’ll find the pro-tax Web site of Orange Citizens for Schools and Parks here.