County supervisors put off vote on storm water cleanup fee
Los Angeles County supervisors on Tuesday deferred a vote on placing a storm water cleanup tax on the ballot amid strong opposition from a range of stakeholders, including local school districts, which have historically been exempt from such fees.
The proposed fee would be levied on all property owners within the county’s flood control district, raising an estimated $290 million a year to help cities and the county deal with widespread water quality issues stemming from polluted storm water and urban runoff — and the resulting threat of fines and litigation.
Nearly 200 people spoke to the board at a hearing Tuesday — a required first step before the supervisors could vote to put it on the ballot — and many of them were firmly against the proposal.
If the county Board of Supervisors eventually agrees to put it on the ballot, and it’s approved by more than 50% of voters, the impact would be yet another financial drain for school districts already contemplating teacher layoff notices later this year.
Local education officials also fear it would set a precedent, as school districts have historically been exempted from assessor agency fees.
Two supervisors, Don Knabe and Michael D. Antonovich, have been adamantly opposed to the proposed fee from the start, the L.A. Times reported. A third, Gloria Molina, said Tuesday she was “troubled” about aspects of the measure, particularly the public outreach process.
The board direct county officials to keep the protest period for the measure open for another 60 days as they explore possible amendments to appease concerns expressed at the meeting.
Los Angeles Times staff writer Abbey Sewell contributed to this report.
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-- Jason Wells and Kelly Corrigan, Times Community News
Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan