This is an archive of a past election.
See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/la/ for current information.
LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund If you appreciate our service to voters, please consider helping us with a donation.
Smart Voter
Los Angeles County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
Measure I
Sales Tax Increase to Fund Essential Services
City of La Mirada

Sales Tax Increase - Majority Approval Required

Pass: 11,746 / 66.63% Yes votes ...... 5,883 / 33.37% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Dec 2 2:20pm, 100.00% of Precincts Reporting (27/27)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

To preserve our quality of life and maintain local, city services, including: neighborhood police patrols/911 response times; crime/gang prevention programs; repair potholes/keep streets from falling into disrepair; senior services/facilities; after-school programs for children/teens; and other general city services, shall the City of La Mirada enact a one cent sales tax, for 5 years, that cannot be taken by Sacramento, with citizens' oversight, annual independent audits, will all funds spent only in La Mirada?

Impartial Analysis from
JAMES L. MARKMAN
City Attorney
The City Council of the City of La Mirada has placed Measure I on the ballot to ask the voters whether or not to approve an ordinance· that would enact a temporary one percent (1%) transactions and use tax within the City. This would be a general tax and the proceeds may be used for any municipal purpose including addressing the City's current declared fiscal emergency by maintaining current levels of municipal services in spite of financial shortfalls due to economic conditions. This measure will automatically terminate after five (5) years. The measure requires appointment of a Citizens Oversight Committee to review and report on the revenue and expenditure of the tax proceeds. Annual independent audits must be conducted to account for the tax revenues received and expenditures made, and those audits will be provided to the Citizens Oversight Committee for review.

There is currently a one percent (1 %) local sales and use tax which is levied on the sale or use of tangible personal property, collected at the time of transaction, and remitted to the State Board of Equalization for administration. The current total tax on retail sales in La Mirada is 8.75 percent (8.75%). If this measure is adopted, the total sales tax rate will increase to 9.75 percent (9.75%).

Exemptions and exclusions from application of the proposed tax include the amount of any sales or use tax imposed by the State or county, as well as various other exemptions specified in the Revenue and Taxation Code.

A "Yes" vote is a vote to approve the enactment of an ordinance establishing the one percent (1 %) transactions and use tax rate, with annual audits and Citizens Oversight Committee review, subject to specified exemptions.

A "No" vote is a vote against the ordinance. This measure will be approved if it receives a simple majority of "Yes" votes.

Dated: August 20, 2012

  Official Information

City of La Mirada
This election is archived. Any links to sources outside of Smart Voter may no longer be active. No further links will be added to this page.
Links to sources outside of Smart Voter are provided for information only and do not imply endorsement.

Arguments For Measure I
Tired of Sacramento taking our money? Do something about it! Vote YES on I to keep our funds local, and maintain our La Mirada services - none of it can be taken by Sacramento.

Sacramento takeaways and declining revenues have forced La Mirada to cut millions of dollars in spending, severely impacting the important services we all rely on: public safety and city street/pothole repair.

La Mirada currently has the lowest crime rate in the region -- we need to keep it that way! YES on I maintains current police patrols to keep La Mirada citizens safe.

Vote YES on I to protect your services:
YES on I maintains neighborhood police patrols and rapid police response times
YES on I maintains crime and gang prevention programs
YES on I maintains and repairs neighborhood streets, roads, and potholes.
YES on I maintains after-school programs for children and teens

Measure I requires independent citizen oversight, mandatory financial audits, and yearly reports to the community ensuring all funds are spent as promised.

Measure I is legally required to end in 5 years unless extended by voters.

With YES on I residents, businesses, and visitors from outside La Mirada pay their fair share to fund city services and maintain city streets and roads - the responsibility doesn't fall solely on homeowners.

An independent Citizens Task Force studied the issues and recommended a local measure to protect our local control of local funds for local needs. Following input from hundreds of La Mirada residents, the Task Force believes the community has a responsibility to address these priorities.

YES on I requires that all funds be used locally. No money can be taken by Sacramento.

Join police officers, firefighters, community leaders, and local business leaders in voting YES on I -- give La Mirada local control over local funds for local needs!

GABRIEL P. GARCIA
Mayor

STEVE JONES
Councilmember

RICHARD J. ESTRADA
Police Officer

MICHAEL C. GARCIA
Firefighter

STEVE KEITHLY
Businessman

(No arguments against Measure I were submitted)


Los Angeles Home Page || Statewide Links || About Smart Voter || Feedback
Created: December 17, 2012 13:44 PST
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://cavotes.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.