Utility tax is headed for ballot
The Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed Tuesday to place on the November ballot a utility tax that would keep about $65 million flowing into county coffers.
Residents in the county’s unincorporated areas have been paying a 5% tax on their utilities -- gas, electric and telephone -- since 1991. Officials are now proposing a reduction to 4.5%, but the tax would grow to include pagers and text messaging on cellular phones.
Although supervisors couched the move as a tax reduction, the levy is in fact being threatened by a series of potential court decisions. By winning voter approval, the tax would be immune from any court ruling.
Other municipalities, including the city of Los Angeles, won such approval earlier this year.
County officials said the tax revenue is needed to pay for code enforcement, early-morning patrols at parks and extended hours at county libraries.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
