In 2004 the people of Montebello voted no on a sales tax increase—they did not believe city government could honestly spend the money. Now 13 years later, the city is forced to go to another sales tax increase—regardless of the story below, it is to finance the DOUBLING of CalPERS mandatory contributions. Not a dime will go to libraries, streets or public safety—this sales tax is to help finance the crumbling State pension system.
“A study projected the city has about $212 million in needs, including $178 million in deferred maintenance costs still left to complete, said Tucker-Schuyler in Wednesday’s written staff report.
“We have money coming in but we’re always short,” Romero said.
Councilman Art Barajas pointed to other cities that have raised taxes.
“Why does Pico Rivera have better parks than we do? Barajas asked. “The city (residents) decided to help themselves by voting for (4.5 percent) utility users and (1 percent) sales taxes,” he said. “These tools are needed in order to move the city forward.”
Montebello lies—by not noting the massive pension cost increases, claiming it is about “maintenance”, shows why government can not be trusted or respected. Tell the truth, this is a CalPERS created financial crisis—reform it, do not cover it up with higher taxes.
Montebello council to consider placing sales-tax measure on November ballot
By Mike Sprague, Whittier Daily News, 4/24/17
MONTEBELLO >> After relying for years on one-time infusions of cash to plug holes in the city’s budget, Montebello’s council could soon declare a fiscal emergency that would allow officials to put a sales tax increase on the Nov. 7 ballot.
The city faces a $5.6 million deficit in City Manager Francesca Tucker-Schuyler’s $58 million budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year.
Tucker-Schuyler said approving a proposal to increase the sales tax from 8.75 percent to 9.75 percent would raise about $9.5 million. And while the city has about $9 million in reserve, that money would only cover Montebello’s deficit for one year, the city manager said.
“We need to be a self-sustaining city,” Mayor Vivian Romero said at the April 12 City Council meeting, where council members received a budget presentation and agreed to place the sales-tax item on this week’s agenda.
A study projected the city has about $212 million in needs, including $178 million in deferred maintenance costs still left to complete, said Tucker-Schuyler in Wednesday’s written staff report.
“We have money coming in but we’re always short,” Romero said.
Councilman Art Barajas pointed to other cities that have raised taxes.
“Why does Pico Rivera have better parks than we do? Barajas asked. “The city (residents) decided to help themselves by voting for (4.5 percent) utility users and (1 percent) sales taxes,” he said. “These tools are needed in order to move the city forward.”
Proposition 218, passed by voters in 1996, gave California residents more control over local tax measures.
The proposition also ensured that local city governments could only place new tax measures on the ballot in general election years. Montebello’s next general election won’t come until November 2018, which means the council would need a unanimous vote to declare an emergency to put the tax increase on this year’s ballot.
Councilman Bill Molinari opposed declaring such an emergency a year ago. This year, he said he wants some changes before voting to place the tax on the ballot.
“If we’re telling the community we have an emergency, I think we should act like it,” Molinari said. “It’s not the amount of money, but the example you set. This council should be willing to curtail some of the expenses — so-called perks, such as travel.”
Tucker-Schuyler’s budget calls for increased spending of $6.2 million, including about $3.4 million needed for things like new roofs for the Police and Fire Departments and City Hall. The Public Works Department also needs new vehicles, Tucker-Schuyler said.
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The budget also calls for five new positions, including a fire inspector, and more than 20 part-time jobs will be created.
“A lot of spending is for capital improvements,” Tucker-Schuyler said. “Public safety costs have gone and maintenance costs are rising.”
Councilwoman Vanessa Delgado said the proposed increases are not definite and still need to be reviewed by the council.
“We’ll make sure every request is needed,” Delgado said. “I’m not in support of growing the budget until we have the revenue.”
In 2004, the council asked voters to approve a 6.5 percent utility users tax, which was rejected, Molinari said.
“At the time, people didn’t trust that we’d spend it appropriately,” he said.
Molinari said the city could change that by setting up a citizens oversight committee to help determine what the city really needs.
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