Stanton : Council at Odds Over How to Raise Money

Facing a budget deficit that could go as high as $900,000 and amid growing friction among council members, the City Council is considering several revenue-raising options.

Three of the five council members, Mike Pace, Martha Weishaupt and Vice Mayor Jim Hayes, say that any significant tax increases should be approved by the voters. The three-member majority this week directed City Atty. Thomas W. Allen to draft a resolution that--if approved at the council’s April 23 meeting--would place a ballot measure before residents on July 30.

The resolution will call for an override on property taxes, which is permitted under Proposition 13 but must be approved by two-thirds of the voters.

Since passage of Proposition 13, Stanton voters have twice approved tax overrides. The current override expires June 30.

Meanwhile, Mayor Jean Siriani and Councilman Sal Sapien say they don’t think a voter-approved tax override is the best way to raise revenues, and instead are calling for the council to pass a utility-users tax that would be spread out among all businesses and residents with annual incomes of more than $10,000.

“It is the responsibility of the council--that is why we’re elected--to make the decisions on financing city services,” Sapien said. “To go to the voters whenever there is an unpopular or tough decision to make is playing politics and shirking responsibility.”

Hayes bristles at Sapien’s comments. “I don’t believe I was elected to raise people’s taxes,” he said. “The utility-users tax Mr. Sapien and Mrs. Siriani want is the most regressive tax they could propose. It hits middle-income and fixed-income people the hardest.