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Measure P Safe Neighborhood Parks County of Los Angeles Special Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required Fail: 862,224 / 62.89% Yes votes ...... 508,672 / 37.11% No votes
See Also:
Index of all Measures |
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Results as of Nov 25 1:07pm, 100% of Precincts Reporting (5,027/5,027) |
Information shown below: Summary | Impartial Analysis | Arguments | | |||||
To ensure continued funding from an expiring voter-approved measure for improving the safety of neighborhood parks and senior/youth recreation areas; assisting in gang prevention; protecting rivers, beaches, water sources; repairing, acquiring/preserving parks/natural areas; maintaining zoos, museums; providing youth job-training, shall Los Angeles County levy an annual $23/parcel special tax, requiring annual independent financial audits and all funds used locally?
In 1992 and 1996, voters approved an annual assessment on parcels of real property within the County for the purpose of development, acquisition, improvement, restoration and maintenance of parks, recreational, cultural and community facilities, and open space lands within the County. The 1992 assessment raises approximately $52,000,000 per year and expires on June 30, 2015. The 1996 assessment raises approximately $28,000,000 per year and expires on June 30, 2019. This Measure is intended to replace the funding provided by the expiring 1992 and 1996 assessments. The Tax proceeds from this Measure will be used to improve, acquire and develop park and recreation facilities in neighborhoods throughout the County. The allocation and associated purposes of the Tax include, but are not limited to: 20% to cities and unincorporated County areas, apportioned on a per parcel basis, for park and recreation facilities and park safety improvements; 15% to the County for County parks, beaches and clean water/park projects; 30% to the County for regional projects and open space, foothill, mountain, trail, river, wetland and stream projects; 10% to the County for increasing open space and recreational opportunities in underserved communities; 5% for competitive grants to public agencies and non-profit organizations for projects such as trails, senior citizen/youth facilities, urban tree planting, graffiti prevention, river and stream recreation, and natural land restoration, with priority being given to proposals that employ local youth and at-risk youth; 15% for maintenance and servicing of the projects funded by the 1992 and 1996 assessments and this Measure; and 5% for administration. All laws and procedures for administration and collection of ad valorem property taxes shall apply to this Measure, and the Tax shall be collected by the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector at the same time and manner as ad valorem property taxes. Properties owned by government agencies and also devoted to a public use will not be subject to the Tax. The Tax shall become a lien upon each parcel and is subject to the same penalties imposed for unpaid ad valorem property taxes in the event the Tax is not paid. The Board shall comply with Government Code section 50075.1 accountability measures including, but not limited to, indicating the specific purposes of the Tax and requiring that Tax proceeds be used only for those purposes; creating an account within which the Tax proceeds shall be deposited; and causing an annual report and independent financial analysis to be prepared reporting all revenues and expenditures of the Tax. This Measure requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote for passage.
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News and Analysis Coverage from 89.3 KPCC
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Arguments For Measure P | Arguments Against Measure P | ||
Vote YES on PROPOSITION P!
This measure continues an expiring voter-approved local funding measure for city, county and neighborhood parks/recreation centers that will:
Proposition P provides neighborhood parks with necessary equipment and facilities to ensure after-school youth programs remain safe. These healthy recreational and educational alternatives are used by thousands of youth, keeping them off the streets and away from gangs, drugs and vandalism.
Repair and upgrade our neighborhood parks/recreation centers
Protect local water quality, sources and supplies
Fiscal accountability Proposition P continues funding from the expiring measure. Losing this funding means tens of millions of dollars in cuts to our park/recreation programs. There is no other countywide source of money for park repairs, upgrades and improvements. Join us in voting YES on PROPOSITION P!
JACKIE LACEY
REV. GREGORY J. BOYLE, S.J.
RICHARD LICHTENSTEIN
BELINDA V. FAUSTINOS
ZEV YAROSLAVSKY
Proponents want you to believe that without this new tax our County parks and recreational programs will be in trouble. Not true! In fact, we currently have $150 million in unallocated park funds! The County park system will not face budget cuts without this tax. It is irresponsible to saddle you with another tax increase when there is no plan to spend all the money from the previous tax! Remember, this measure is not a continuation of an expiring tax. It is a new tax on all property owners in L.A. County. Property owners already pay for two park measures. One that passed in 1992 and another passed in 1996, which does not expire until 2018 and generates over $28 million annually. This new tax was rushed to voters without any public outreach, input or discussion. Before increasing taxes, we need to research park needs and present voters with a comprehensive plan guaranteeing equitable distribution of the funds for specific projects throughout the county. Proposition P does not do this! Parks are vital to enhancing the quality of life for our county residents. However, residents should not be taxed again until there is a plan to spend all the unallocated revenues. Join us in voting against excessive taxes and vote NO on Proposition P. BISHOP HENRY HEARNS
DR. SANDRA E. THOMAS
MIKE SPENCE
DON FLEMING
DR. CHRISTOPHER LIN | Measure P is a new tax. All County residents already pay two park taxes Now is not the time for a new 30 year tax when the Parks Department already has over $150 million in unspent funds from previous park taxes that voters will continue to pay through 2018. Before saddling tax payers with yet another new tax, we need a comprehensive plan to spend existing unallocated revenues and a proposal to specify the need for new revenue. The 2016 election will provide ample time to enlist full public support for an equitable tax plan to fund county projects + two years ahead of the 2018 deadline when the existing tax expires. Parks are a vital component in enhancing the quality of life for our county residents. However Measure P is a flawed proposal that rushes voters into a $1.6 billion tax hike over 30 years. Vote no on Measure P
RICKEY GELB
JOHN J. KENNEDY
JOHN G. CARLSON
MELVIN WILSON
MICHAEL ANTONOVICH
The voter-approved Safe Neighborhood Parks and Gang Prevention measure, which has provided critical funds to repair, upgrade, and improve our neighborhood parks/recreation centers, is set to expire next June. This means our communities will lose tens of millions of dollars annually, resulting in reduction or elimination of ongoing repairs and upgrades to our parks/recreational centers and cuts to park programs; including those in parks with the greatest needs. Measure P simply continues the expiring voter-approved funding so that our communities can:
It will also ensure annual independent financial audits to determine that all funds are spent locally, efficiently and effectively. By law, funds from the new measure cannot be collected until five months after the current measure ends. Therefore, it simply continues voter-approved revenue that we are already paying. "Parks are a vital component in enhancing the quality of life for our county residents." This is why it is so critical that we vote Yes on Measure P.
JACKIE LACEY
GLORIA MOLINA
BLANCA E. CASTRO
DIANA POLLARD
BRUCE SAITO |