One-quarter-cent sales tax to be on ballot, along with candidates for council, mayor, treasurer
The Avalon City Council this week called the election for March 2020. Two council seats will be in play for four-year terms, as will the offices of mayor and treasurer. Piggybacking on the regular election will be a special election to fill the unexpired two-year term for the seat vacated by the resignation of Richard Hernandez.
The council also approved putting a one-quarter-cent sales tax increase on the ballot. Resident Leslie Warner suggested a sunset clause on the tax.
However, according to City Attorney Scott Campbell, if the tax included a sunset clause, Los Angeles County would take the tax revenue after the period passes. According to Campbell, the question was whether the council wanted the money to stay in Avalon or have it go to the county.
Resident Jack Tucey said taxing was the easy way to address a budget shortage. “We need to look at our economy and grow it,” he said.
Warner also requested specific language in the ordinance designating how the money would be spent.
According to Campbell, a vote on a general tax would require approval of a majority of voters, but a tax to pay for items “X, Y or Z,” would require the approval of two-thirds of the voters.
A proposed advisory ballot measure to get the public’s input on a proposal to allow the sale of commercial cannabis is expected to return to the next council meeting. The deadline to put a new measure on the ballot is Oct. 24. Council members did not support an alternative proposal to hold a workshop or townhall meeting. Council Member Cinde MacGugan-Cassidy said it was “extraodinarily painful” to get community members to come to a meeting. Mayor Anni Marshall pointed out that some individuals would not want to weigh in on the issue publicly.
