Glendora : Chamber Opposes Tax Hike

The Chamber of Commerce has launched a petition drive against a proposed property and sales tax increase to buy land in the foothills for designation as open space, arguing that it would hurt the business community and low-income residents.

Petitions opposing the increase have been sent to all businesses in Glendora, and chamber members have received letters urging them to attend a meeting Tuesday, when the City Council will discuss the proposal. If the council approves, the measure will go before voters. But City Manager Art Cook said a sales tax increase for that purpose probably would not be allowed under state law.

Under the proposal, from $11.5 million to $14 million would be raised through a combination of increased park and recreation fees over five years, a three-year, quarter-cent sales tax increase and a three-year property tax increase of 20 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The property tax increase would raise taxes $400 on a house assessed at $200,000. A public conservancy would then be set up to preserve the land.

“We’ve been flooded with calls of support,” said chamber President Tim Ferguson, who is also a member of the mayor’s advisory committee that recommended the tax increases last week. Ferguson owns 50 acres of undeveloped land in the foothills and said that, although he supports the concept of a land conservancy, he objects to using public money to buy the land. He said he voted against it on the advisory committee.

Judy Lawford, president of Glendora Pride, a slow-growth citizens group that supports the tax increase, accused Ferguson of being “a thorn in (the committee’s) side.”