Lynwood to Vote on 10% Phone Tax to Reinforce Police

Voters will be asked in November to approve a tax on their monthly telephone bills to pay for more police protection.

The City Council, meeting early Thursday in special session, approved a ballot measure that would raise an estimated $1.2 million a year by imposing a 10%-a-month tax on phone bills. The tax would be imposed on calls made within the state.

Three New Deputies

About 80% of the money would go to the Sheriff’s Department, which provides police services to the city. The money would be used to hire at least three new deputies and to purchase new squad cars and other equipment, city officials said.

The remaining money would probably be used for youth-related programs and park and recreational projects, said Councilman Robert Henning, who suggested the tax measure.

After a brief discussion, the council approved the ballot measure by a 4-1 vote. Mayor Paul Richards opposed the plan.

“This is too much information to digest. We’re getting ahead of ourselves. The public isn’t aware we are deliberating. Lots of people might have something to say,” Richards said.

The council was not required to hold a public hearing before approving the measure, said City Atty. Henry Barbosa.

“In my opinion, this is the most democratic way, letting the voters vote,” Barbosa said in an interview.

Henning said he believes the measure “has an excellent chance of passing. The people want action on crime and I think they’ll be willing to pay for it.”

Henning said the city did not have the funds in its $26.5-million 1988-89 budget to provide the additional police services. Currently the city law-enforcement budget is an estimated $3.7 million. Henning said he suggested the tax after reading reports that South Gate recently approved a similar plan.

Council Faced Deadline

The council scheduled the special session because it faced an Aug. 12 deadline for placing the proposal on the November ballot, and some council members were scheduled to be away on vacation, Henning said.

The council approved a lower tax for the elderly, the handicapped and those with low incomes, but did not specify the amount.

The council in recent budget sessions had rejected a request by the Sheriff’s Department to add three deputies to the Lynwood station, which has 130 officers and serves the city and unincorporated county areas of Willowbrook and East Compton. The proposal called for one additional patrol deputy, a traffic deputy and a deputy to provide anti-drug classroom instructions to elementary students in the Lynwood Unified School District.

While major crime in the city declined 10% in 1987, certain areas within the city showed an increase, said Lt. Ray Sanchez, operations lieutenant at the Lynwood facility. For example, one area in the northwest section of the city recorded a 5% increase during the last six months, Sanchez said.

“Our concern is to prevent this from getting out of hand,” Sanchez said.

During the special meeting, the council also granted a rubbish rate increase to Western Waste Industries of Gardena, which provides service to both residential and commercial customers.

Residential fees were raised 18.4% from $8.02 to $9.44 a month for single-family homes and from $7.01 to $8.27 for apartments and duplexes.

Commercial fees were increased 9% from $64.50 to $70.31.

Western Waste was granted an increase 18 months ago, said Joseph Wang, public works director.