$600,000 Tax Excess in Westlake : Voters to Decide if City Keeps Surplus

Westlake Village voters will be asked in November to give the city permission to keep and spend more than $600,000 in excess tax revenues rather than return the money to taxpayers.

With little discussion, the Westlake Village City Council unanimously voted Wednesday to hold a tax override election Nov. 3. Officials will urge voters to allow the city to retain the $628,172 surplus, which they predict will be collected by the end of the 1988-89 fiscal year.

The money would be placed in a special fund for essential services and capital improvements, and used for more or better municipal services.

The council voted to rebate $75,602 in excess taxes for the 1984-85 fiscal year through a $25 property-tax credit.

$24.25 Credit

Each taxpayer will receive a $24.25 credit on property-tax bills, scheduled to be mailed in November. The credit will cover the county’s $13 lighting assessment and $12.50 of an $18 landscape assessment, said City Manager James E. Emmons.

Businesses will receive credits of up to $40, Emmons said. The city plans to send a letter to property owners explaining the rebate in October.

In voting for the override election, City Council followed the recommendations of a 10-member citizens-advisory committee.

The city must hold override elections or grant rebates because it exceeded the tax ceiling set by the Gann Spending Limitation, a statewide tax-reform measure. Approved by voters in 1979, the law imposes a limit on state and local taxes and requires that excess money be returned to taxpayers within two years. A city may keep the money, however, if voters approve increased spending limits or alternate uses for the money.