Hearings Planned on Tax District to Pay for More Inglewood Police

As expected, Inglewood City Council members this week said they favor creating a tax assessment district to pay for 20 new police officers and called for public hearings on the idea.

Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to begin the process of notifying property owners and holding hearings on the proposal, which would cost homeowners $60 a year and add $120 to the tax bills for multiple-unit, commercial and industrial property.

The council rejected putting an initiative on the June 7 ballot asking voter approval of a special police tax to raise the $1.4 million needed for 20 new officers. The deadline for placing a measure on the June ballot was Tuesday, and the special tax would have needed approval from two-thirds of the voters.

Officials have been discussing the question of police manpower since last month, when a consultant’s study on the Police Department recommended putting more patrol officers on the street.

The study proposed a reorganization of the 187-officer department that would include cutting administrative and investigative positions and hiring five new officers and 11 civilians, at a total cost of $905,448.

The report got a mixed reaction from some police officers and officials, who said some recommendations may not be carried out for a long time and others may be rejected.

Mayor Edward Vincent and Councilman Anthony Scardenzan said they hope to get a lot of comment from residents on the merits of implementing a tax assessment district.

Public hearings should begin by May, said City Manager Paul Eckles, and the council must make a decision by August to get the tax on this year’s bills.

Stressing the importance of “educating” residents on the manpower issue, Councilman Daniel Tabor asked that the council also prepare a ballot initiative for a special tax to go on the November ballot in case residents decide that they want to vote on the matter.

Vincent and Scardenzan criticized that suggestion, saying it was unnecessary because citizens will receive ample information in public forums and would not need to vote if they oppose the assessment. A November vote would preclude new funding for 20 officers until the following fiscal year, Eckles said.

Tabor and some speakers at the council meeting also expressed concern that the council is moving forward on the plan to hire 20 new officers before officials and residents have fully considered the recommendations of the $65,000 consultant report.