Defeat Looms for 4 of 5 Bond, Tax Measures : Propositions: Voters evenly divided only on sales levy for transit projects. Money from other issues would have aided variety of local projects, including jails, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles Zoo and 911 system.

A new 911 emergency phone system, a sweeping parks measure and an ambitious jail construction program were among an array of Los Angeles County projects headed for defeat Tuesday, but voters appeared about evenly divided on a new half-cent sales tax for transportation projects.

With more than three-fourths of the vote tallied, prospects for four of five tax-raising measures appeared dim, but supporters held out hope for Proposition C, the transit tax measure pushed by Mayor Tom Bradley.

“It looks very hopeful,” said Carrie Chasin, a worker on the transit tax campaign. Although it was unclear at midnight which precincts remained uncounted, Chasin noted that those which depend more heavily on mass transportation would weigh in more heavily in favor of the tax.

The measures were largely backed by city and county officials whose budgets are strained to their limits. Without the increases, they argued, essential services would face cuts and cultural attractions would fall further into disrepair.

Joel Fox, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., which opposed most of the measures, said, “I think that the voters decided to pick and choose between tax increases.” In the past, “the voters have been duped into providing good money after bad,” said county Supervisor Pete Schabarum, an opponent of the measures. This time, taxes were rejected because, “the proponents weren’t able to prove they were going to spend the money wisely,” he said.

The Los Angeles County and city measures on the ballot were:

Proposition A

County Jail Construction

Voters were asked to approve a half-cent sales tax increase to fund construction and operation of new jails and juvenile halls. The measure needed approval by a simple majority of the voters.

If passed, the new tax was expected to eventually relieve the jail overcrowding that have forced the early releases since mid-1988 of 325,644 people accused or convicted of misdemeanors.

Opponents included Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. and Los Angeles Taxpayers Assn., who said the measure amounted to an end run around Proposition 13’s requirement of two-thirds voter approval of tax hikes.

Proposition B

County Parks

The largest bond measure in the county’s history would have boosted property taxes to pay for an $817-million array of recreational and cultural projects. It attracted a wide range of supporters, including such ideological opposites as conservative Supervisor Mike Antonovich and liberal Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica).

The key was its novel something-for-everyone approach.

Included in the measure was $50 million for county beaches and harbors, $35 million for the Hollywood Bowl, $30 million for the Los Angeles Zoo, $13 million for the County Museum of Natural History, $10 million for the County Museum of Art, $13 million for Griffith Observatory and $5 million for trout streams.

If approved by two-thirds of the voters, the measure would have added about $20 a year for 20 years to the tax bill of a home assessed at $250,000.

Proposition C

County Transit Projects

The measure would authorize a half-cent sales tax increase to fund transit projects, bringing the county’s rate to 7%. Like Proposition A, it required a simple majority for approval.

The measure would raise an estimated $400 million annually to build and operate rail systems, maintain bus service and improve streets.

Proposition J

911 System

The Los Angeles Police Department lobbied hard for the municipal measure to raise $235 million to replace its 911 emergency calling and radio systems. The department says that as many as 100,000 calls to 911 will go unanswered this year because of its outmoded system.

The measure would have cost the owner of the average 1,500-square-foot home about $12.50 a year for 20 years. Two-thirds voter approval was required.

Proposition K

Housing Preservation

The $100-million bond measure would have provided $80 million for nonprofit groups to buy and rehabilitate 6,000 low-income apartment units that are at risk of being lost to earthquakes, demolition or gentrification. Another $10 million was set aside for building shelters for homeless, and $10 million would have gone to loans for low-wage home buyers shut out of the costly Los Angeles market.

The measure required a two-thirds vote and would have added about $4.95 a year to the average tax bill for 20 years.

Contributing to election coverage were Times staff writers Eric Bailey, Bob Baker, Stephen Braun, Stephanie Chavez, Mathis Chazanov, Henry Chu, Rich Connell, Maura Dolan, Virginia Ellis, Paul Feldman, Larry Gordon, Berkley Hudson, Ted Johnson, Charisse Jones, Robert A. Jones, Jesse Katz, Maria L. La Ganga, John H. Lee, Vivian Louie, Penelope McMillan, John L. Mitchell, Dan Morain, Patt Morrison, Bob Pool, Terry Pristin, James Rainey, Kenneth Reich, Kevin Roderick, Lynn Smith, Jill Stewart, Sheryl Stolberg, Daniel Weintraub, Mike Ward, Tracy Wilkinson, Tracy Wood and Nora Zamichow; Times researchers Janice L. Jones, Michael Meyers, Cecilia Rasmussen and Tracy Thomas; and Times Editorial assistants Lilia Beebe and Terri Rosales. Also contributing were Mark Arax, Max Boot, Anne Michaud and John Nalick.