Utility Taxes and What They Pay For
In recent weeks I have read a number of letters protesting the imposition of a utility tax in West Hollywood.
Speaking only from our experience in Santa Monica, if you think that 7.5% utility tax is outrageous, all I can say is you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
The Santa Monica utility tax was instituted a number of years ago and now stands at 9.5%, but the City Council is seeking to increase it to 10%, along with increased parking fees and water rates, etc.
Do these increased fees pay for more police protection or better fire protection or road repairs, or any of the other services that the residents of Santa Monica might expect from their elected city officials? Heck no.
Instead the increased fees pay for the hiring of more unemployed activists at City Hall (at ever higher salaries and benefit packages); more food programs for the homeless; large grants to the school district; the purchase of private property to build “low cost housing” in direct competition with private developers (except that the private sector has to build within a budget).
Our city budget is also in the red, as is West Hollywood’s, but it certainly isn’t because of any increased services that the Santa Monica taxpayer is receiving. In most cases we are receiving less services than we did and paying more for the privilege.
Apparently local politicians haven’t received the message that was sent to Washington. Cut spending first.
JOAN JURENKA
Santa Monica
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