Racetrack Owner Backs Assessment for Fire Services
The owner of Santa Anita racetrack has endorsed a proposed annual assessment that would provide $2.2 million for fire services, boosting city efforts to gain property owners’ approval of the fee.
Officials for Santa Anita Realty Enterprises, owner of Santa Anita Park and a partner in the Santa Anita Fashion Park mall, said it will cast its votes for the formation of the Arcadia Fire Suppression District.
The company’s ballots are important because votes are weighed by how much assessment the property owner pays. Santa Anita’s votes will be equal to those of several hundred homeowners.
“The assessment Santa Anita will pay should the ballot measure pass will probably be one of the largest in the city, but we see it as a good investment in the community,” said Tom Austin, the company’s vice president.
Property owners have until Aug. 5 to mail in their ballots, which will be counted at a hearing the same day. A typical household would pay $120 annually.
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