Council Places Utility Tax Increase on April Ballot
Arcadia residents will vote in April on a proposal to raise the city’s utility tax from 5% to 7%.
The City Council this week agreed to place the issue on the ballot, with only Councilman Sheng Change dissenting. He says he is opposed to any additional burden on taxpayers.
The additional tax would raise an estimated $1.4 million annually for the city.
Earlier this year, property owners rejected plans for a fire assessment district that would have generated about $2 million annually. That forced the council to reduce the city’s expenses.
Last month, the council made $303,000 in cuts and laid off seven full-time and part-time employees.
Council members are not leaving the utility tax to chance. They plan to form a citizen’s committee to encourage support for the tax.
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