Maintenance Tax Ballot Is in the Works

The City Council tonight will consider the wording for a special ballot asking residents whether they are willing to continue to pay a special tax for public maintenance.

Officials plan to mail out the ballot this spring to see if homeowners want to keep paying $42 a year for street sweeping and lighting, parking, landscaping and other services on public properties.

Money for those services is now raised by a special assessment district that officials said brings in $3.1 million a year.

The passage of Proposition 218 in November requires cities to get residents’ permission to form assessment districts. The measure takes effect July 1.

“Basically, when 218 passed the state, it told voters, ‘You make the decision,’ ” Councilman Dave Christensen said. “If the voters want to cut services, I want to hear it from the voters, not politicians.”

Christensen said street lighting and maintenance would not be affected if the voters do not approve the assessment, but some services, such as those for youth and senior citizens, would likely be cut to avoid a budget shortfall.

“We’re not going to let the grass go brown,” he said.

The meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. in City Hall, 1 Civic Center Plaza.

Information: (714) 724-6000.