Whittier : Cellular Phones to Be Taxed as Utilities Starting July 1
The City Council has voted to extend the city’s utility user tax to cellular phones.
Council members voted 4-1 to approve the proposal recently, with Councilman Michael Sullens dissenting.
The utilities user tax is 4%, but council members said they may increase the rate to 4.5% to help balance next year’s budget.
City officials said the tax on cellular phones will be implemented July 1 and is expected to generate $40,000 to $58,000. The tax will be applied to the monthly service charge for cellular phones, which averages $45 per month.
About 3,200 Whittier residents use cellular phones, officials said.
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