This is an archive of a past election. See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/sd/ for current information. |
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Proposition L Vital City Services Measure City of La Mesa Majority Approval Required
See Also:
Index of all Propositions |
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Results as of Jan 24 10:40am |
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | | ||||
To maintain essential City services including natural disaster response/preparedness programs; youth anti-gang/anti-drug prevention; retaining quality firefighters/paramedics and police officers; increasing street paving/pothole repair; enhancing trolley station security; maintaining the senior community center, after school tutoring and recreation programs; and other general services shall the City sales tax be increased by three-quarters of a cent, requiring annual audits, public expenditure reports, with 20 year expiration?
California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7285.9 authorizes the City Council to levy a transaction and use tax at such a rate, provided the tax is approved by a majority of the voters voting in an election on that issue. If approved by a majority of the voters, the tax would go into effect April 1, 2009 (the "Operative Date"). Proposition L provides that the three-quarters of one percent sales tax is to be used to "maintain essential City services." Because the tax would be a "general tax," the tax revenue would go into the City's general fund and could be used for any legal municipal purpose. The City would not be legally bound to use this tax revenue for any special purpose or for any specifically identified special services, facilities or programs. Under existing law, food purchased as groceries and prescription medications are exempt from California "sales tax" and therefore those items would not be taxed under Proposition L. The authority to levy the tax imposed by Proposition "L" would expire 20 years from the Operative Date, unless the City Council prior to that date determines that the levy and collection of the tax is no longer necessary, in which case the City Council has the authority to reduce the rate of tax or terminate the imposition of the tax.
Glenn Sabine
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Local News and Analysis ABC 10 News San Diego
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Arguments For Proposition L | Arguments Against Proposition L | ||||||||||
Protect La Mesa's Safety - Vote YES on L.
Cities throughout the San Diego area are getting tough with gangs. Proposition L allows recruiting and retaining police officers needed to keep gangs out of La Mesa and expand gang prevention programs. Since 1990, the State has taken over $16 Million in local revenues from La Mesa. Now the State faces multi-billion dollar deficits and continues to threaten taking additional funds from cities that will force La Mesa to cut essential services. PROTECT YOUR ESSENTIAL SERVICES - YES on L. Without Proposition L La Mesa will be forced to make cuts to all services, including police officers, firefighters and paramedics. YES on L ensures La Mesa can attract and retain quality firefighters and police officers. YES on L improves the City's ability to respond effectively to natural disasters. YES on L enhances security at trolley stations, preventing robberies, assaults and random crimes and robberies in our City. YES on L improves youth anti-drug and gang prevention programs, and maintains the senior center and other important community facilities. YES on L takes back LOCAL CONTROL - revenue will be required to stay in La Mesa for essential services including police, fire, 911 services, street repairs and parks. It cannot be taken by Sacramento politicians. YES on L is fiscally responsible and will EXPIRE IN 20 YEARS. It requires independent annual audits available for public review. Prescription medications and food purchased as groceries are exempt from Proposition L. YES on L protects your health and safety, preventing devastating cuts to services. VOTE LOCAL + find Proposition L on your ballot and VOTE YES. Proposition L will keep local funds in La Mesa to benefit La Mesa citizens for a safe community serving YOUR needs. VOTE YES ON L.
La Mesa Business Owner
Politicians and city administrators are trying to fool taxpayers. City Councilmembers put "L" on the ballot but now are afraid to sign their names -- so they use police and fire union leaders as "front men" to promote their 20- year tax plan.
IF "L" WINS, POLITICIANS CAN USE THE MONEY HOWEVER THEY WANT.
La Mesa Resident/Business Owner | Prop L pretends to be a tax primarily for fire and police protection. That is false; Prop L is a smokescreen. NOT ONE CENT in Prop L is earmarked for public safety. All Prop L money goes into the City General Fund so politicians and bureaucrats can spend it however they want.
The City Council has failed to keep spending in line with revenues. Annually, they dip into the City's emergency reserve to pay current expenses. This is mostly because La Mesa has a Rolls Royce City employee pension plan. Employees don't contribute a penny to their guaranteed City pensions; you pay it all. PROP L GIVES LA MESA THE SECOND HIGHEST TAX RATE IN THE COUNTY. Remember, Prop L's tax hike is in addition to the proposed County fire tax, and any statewide sales tax hike.
La Mesa city council and city administrators have already spent more than $100,000 of your tax dollars on political consultants, surveys and "informational mailers" to develop "poll tested" promises, inducing voters to support another tax increase. La Mesa voters shouldn't be bullied into higher taxes by politicians who prey on your genuine concerns for safety services and other vital needs. Please vote No on L to prevent higher taxes in La Mesa and to tell politicians that you resent efforts to fool you about how Prop L money will be spent.
La Mesa Homeowner
FACT: Measure L was placed on the ballot only after receiving input from almost 2000 residents who asked the City to protect essential services. FACT: La Mesa Police Officers and Firefighters are among the lowest paid in the County. We already have problems recruiting and retaining a skilled, well-trained police force. FACT: Without YES on L, 12 Police Officers, 9 Firefighters and 1 Fire Station will need to be cut. YES on L keeps firefighters and paramedics ready to respond to emergencies while maintaining rapid response times. YES on Lfights the sharp increase in robberies, auto thefts, burglaries and violent crime in La Mesa. YES on L recruits and retains the police officers we need to keep crime and gangs out of La Mesa. Many California cities have passed measures like YES on L to protect and maintain their local public safety and community services, and there has been no negative impact on local businesses. YES on L gives La Mesa residents LOCAL CONTROL over funding. Every cent is required to be spent in La Mesa to protect your safety and community services. NO funds can be taken by Sacramento to balance the State's budget deficit. YES on Lprotects your health and safety by preventing devastating cuts to services. VOTE LOCAL -- find Measure L on your ballot and vote YES. Join La Mesa Police Officers and Firefighters -- Vote YES on L. Visit http://www.protectlamesaservices.org for more information.
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