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Measure II Ratification of Existing Utility User’s Tax City of Lynwood Ordinance - Majority Approval Required
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Index of all Measures |
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Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | | ||||
To help preserve the safety and character of the City of Lynwood through general City services such as law enforcement, fire protection, street repair, park maintenance, and recreational services, shall the city’s utility user’s tax be reduced to nine percent, ratified, and updated based on changes in technology and laws since it was instituted in 1990; provided that exemptions for senior citizens and disabled person shall also remain?
Measure II was placed before the voters of Lynwood by a unanimous vote of the City Council after the declaration of a fiscal emergency. (Resolution No. 2008.118) The City Council specifically made findings that the continuation of the utility user’s tax with the changes proposed in Measure II was necessary to continue providing “an acceptable level of municipal services.” Due to the housing market collapse and other recessionary indicators, other City revenue sources, such as property tax and sales tax revenue, are likely to decrease. Furthermore, given the state budget crisis and anticipated cuts in funding for local services, a continuing level of local revenue is immediately needed to fund municipal services required to protect the public health, safety, and welfare at existing levels, according to Resolution No. 2008.118. Currently, the utility user’s tax generates approximately 20% of all general fund revenue for the City of Lynwood, according to the City’s Finance Director. The City is facing an approximately $5 million shortfall where anticipated expenditures exceed revenue, including revenue from the existing utility user’s tax. The City’s existing utility user’s tax is a general tax, which means the funds are deposited into the City’s general fund and used for general governmental purposes. Measure II would not affect the status of the utility user’s tax as a general tax. Historically, in Lynwood the largest expenditures from the general fund are used to contract for law enforcement services provided by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and fire protection services provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Other examples of typical uses for general fund revenue include street and sidewalk repair, construction and maintenance of public parks and facilities, city recreational programs, and general government operations. Measure HH is a companion to Measure II, which asks voters if the City’s top priority for use of the utility user’s tax revenue should be law enforcement, gang suppression, crime and drug intervention, graffiti abatement, and prosecution of those engaged in prostitution. Measure II would continue the existing utility user’s tax, but would modify the tax in three material ways. First, it would reduce the tax rate from 10% to 9%. Second, it would clarify that the tax shall apply to new technologies such as wireless telecommunications. Finally, it would provide the tax shall be applied to interstate telecommunications in addition to intrastate. This measure would take effect if approved by a majority of voters who cast votes in connection with this measure at the election.
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