TUSTIN : Council Opposes Jail Tax Measure

The Tustin City Council passed a resolution Monday night opposing Measure J, which would raise the county sales tax one-half cent to pay for the construction and operation of a new county jail.

Alex Carrassi, treasurer of Taxpayers Against J, told the council that if voters approve the measure, and Gov. Pete Wilson’s proposal to raise sales taxes goes forward, the new tax rate could become more than 8 cents per dollar.

Carrassi also criticized the county for spending millions of dollars in preparing environmental impact reports on property for a jail site it does not own as well as its willingness to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to buy property when it might be unnecessary.

“This plan has not been thought out carefully. I can’t support it,” said Councilman Jim Potts, who voted along with Councilmen Earl J. Prescott and Richard B. Edgar to formally oppose the measure.

Edgar said that some cities have already tried to claim much of the money supporters say would pay for a new jail.

Mayor Charles E. Puckett and Councilwoman Leslie Anne Pontious abstained from the vote, saying they did not want to influence voters’ decisions. Pontious said she still wanted to study the issue.

Anaheim has also opposed Measure J, which will be on the ballot Tuesday.