Placentia : Utility Tax Increase May Yet Go on Ballot

Placentia residents whose request for a citywide vote on a tax increase was turned down by the City Council last week say there is still hope that the issue can be resolved at the council level.

George Ziegler, the city’s new mayor, said he will consider voting to place the recent utility tax increase on the ballot.

Ziegler’s statement came a day after the City Council voted 3 to 2, with Ziegler in the majority, to reject a plea by more than 3,000 residents to put the tax to a citywide vote.

“At least his attitude gives us more optimism,” resident Bill Coston, who helped spearhead the petition drive, said.

“I’d be a lot happier if they just settle it once and for all,” he added.

At issue is whether the petition requesting a referendum on the $3 utility tax increase is legal. For the typical resident, the monthly tax increased from $4.50 to $7.50 as of April 1.

Placentia’s city attorney told council members that the 3,111 validated signatures on the petition were useless because the state Constitution prohibits putting tax issues to a referendum vote.

An attorney for the residents, however, said that City Atty. John Harper based his opinion mostly on old cases and on the fact that the state Constitution refers to tax levies that go into a general fund, not into a particular category. In this case, the levies would go into the capital improvement fund, he said.

Attorney Marc Rosen, hired by the Right to Vote Committee, said the residents probably will not consider legal recourse until after they have had a chance to talk to Ziegler.

Although Ziegler was among those voting against putting the issue on the ballot, he said that he will consider an advisory vote, which does not bind the city, as a referendum would.