By Thomas David Carter
In 1978 we the voters voted to have a 1 percent ceiling placed on property taxes billed. Assessed valuations have increased significantly since 1978 to adjust the tax for inflation to fund “normal” operations.
Why can’t the bureaucrats be satisfied? Have they now become “creative” with the aid of honest dedicated staff and “outside” accountants and lawyers to develop a Parcel Tax to circumvent the property tax ceiling limit voted on? Or, is this “reality?”
In prior years the City of Berkeley passed a “Parcel tax” based on “square footage” for several funding requirements and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) passed the first “Parcel Tax” in 1985 as a “direct assessment” to supplement education; because, in my opinion, the county and state were unable to assist adequately with the needs that have existed at SMMUSD in excess of now 15 years.
The county now wishes to fix a medical crisis with a $168,000,000 or $175,000,000 Parcel Tax. The amount has fluctuated in the media and even the “ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE B” IN THE “OFFICAL SAMPLE BAL- LOT” remains at $175 million, as of this writing. I can only speculate as to the reasons. For example, in the measure it states that “structural improvements” are “excluding the square footage of improvements used for parking.” Could this be one reason why the change in amount? Is this for all “parking” or only “structural parking”? Why is the county ballot pamphlet so confusing as written?
The auditor–controller of the county also states in the pamphlet received that a “new account” will be created. And, the auditor-controller shall “annually file with the county Board of Supervisors a report setting forth the amount of funds collected and expended by this measure.” Does this mean an “accounting” in accordance with good government practices?
The need to make this statement concerns me and maybe also should you my good neighbors in Santa Monica when I say that the city and the rent control board have had the same auditors for the past 20 years. Please remember Orange County and now ENRON.
Assuming that that county Band-Aid will work; I now ask my good neighbors in Santa Monica, Malibu and six other LA County precincts to vote for Measure EE, the last Band-Aid for Education for the SMMUSD.
The Parcel Tax, Measure EE, for about $9,700,000 must be voted for because the county and state have failed us in regards to funding education, in my opinion.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 12, 2002. Read the original PDF.