Dozens of local measures seek to raise money for services, facilities

When a sour economy threatens services and facilities in cities, counties and school districts, local jurisdictions can turn to voters for help. And that’s exactly what they’re doing Nov. 2.

Throughout the state, there are 186 finance-related ballot measures being put to local voters this fall, said Michael Coleman, fiscal policy advisor to the League of California Cities.

In five Southern California counties, they include 11 school bond measures to upgrade classrooms and other facilities, two parcel taxes to help pay for instructional and other programs and a smattering of requests involving taxes on hotel rooms, communications and utility users.

The cities of Long Beach and La Puente are asking voters for permission to tax marijuana sales if Proposition 19 passes; that statewide measure would legalize recreational pot use. La Puente also wants to impose an annual business license tax on cooperatives that dispense marijuana for medical use, which is already legal in California.

And three cities — Redlands, Santa Monica and South El Monte — are asking to establish something called a “transactions and use tax” to augment their coffers. It is similar to a sales tax and, if used for general purposes and not earmarked for a specific service, requires only a simple majority to pass.

Such measures have “become very popular in the last few years,” Coleman said — ever since a state law was amended in 2003 to allow cities and counties to levy them if voters agree. He counts 20 such proposals on local ballots throughout California this fall.

Coleman said the transactions and use tax allows cities to charge residents for goods they buy even if purchased elsewhere. For example, the city of Santa Monica, asking voters to establish such a tax of 0.5%, would be able to charge a resident who buys a car in another city. The other city still would receive its local portion of sales tax on the vehicle.

Santa Monica has another measure on the same ballot asking voters for advice on how to spend revenue from the transactions and use tax, if it passes.

Similarly, Carson is seeking a one cent on the dollar increase in the sales tax for five years. The measure would require annual audits and prohibit state government from taking any of the proceeds.

Voters in Bellflower, El Segundo, Huntington Beach, Indio, LaPalma, Placentia, Pomona and Santa Fe Springs are being asked to establish, modify or increase utility users taxes. Those in Costa Mesa, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Ontario and Riverside will decide on hotel tax measures. The city of Port Hueneme seeks to replace its telephone users tax with a more inclusive communications services tax and to reduce the rate from 4% to 3.75%.

School or community college districts in Anaheim, Bear Valley, Centinela Valley, Claremont, Duarte, El Rancho, Lynwood, Magnolia, Mount San Antonio, Rialto and Wiseburn want voters to pass facilities bond measures, which require 55% approval. Parcel taxes, which require assent from two-thirds of voters, are being sought by the Pomona and Ventura unified school districts.

Irvine is asking voters whether they want it to continue financial support of local public schools for another three fiscal years, starting with 2011-12.

jean.merl@latimes.com