Mayor says people may suffer from “bond issue hangover” and not want to support another measure.
By Jonathan Friedman/Special to the Malibu Times
A scientific survey is being distributed around Malibu to see if residents are willing to support bond measures or a half-cent sales tax to pay for various parks and recreation services. The half-cent sales tax could also be used to support the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD).
Last winter, a parks bond measure committee was formed to look into creating a ballot measure to generate revenue for parks and recreation facilities. The Bond Measure Advisory Committee had recommended to the City Council in February the wording of a potential parks bond measure to be put on the June 3 ballot. That election was then postponed to allow the school parcel tax measure to stand alone on the ballot. The committee met further to discuss the possibility of the creation of a benefit assessment district. The assessment funds would go toward acquisition and development of parks and recreation facilities.
The committee recommended that a survey be sent to property owners to decide if they would support a $15 million or $18 million assessment district, and the possibility of increasing the sales tax in Malibu by a half-cent. Three separate surveys are being sent out, one with each option. Those who are surveyed will only get one of the three. The survey looks similar to an actual ballot. Mayor Ken Kearsley said he expects the results to show that people may not be up for supporting a bond measure.
“We have a bond issue hangover,” he said. “We just had a bond issue of $225. Are the people ready for another one?”
For that and other reasons, Kearsley said he is more likely to support the half-cent sales tax. But he said his mind could be changed if the results of the survey are different than he expects. The half-cent sales tax could also be used for the city to continue an ongoing support for the school district, while the bond item could not be used for this purpose.
“A half-cent sales tax would create a new revenue stream of $900,000,” Kearsley said. “It would allow the city to be in a better position to give money to help the district.”
Kearsley made a similar comment at last week’s City Council meeting, at which he encouraged people to support Assembly Bill 1412. That bill authorizes several cities, Malibu being one of them, to hold an election to increase the sales tax by a half-cent. The bill has been approved in the Assembly and is now being looked at by a state Senate committee.
“A half-cent sales tax is not that big of a deal,” he said. “We don’t sell cars here. I don’t think a penny and half increase at Starbucks is going to get people angry.”
But Parks and Recreation Commission Doug O’Brien, who sat on the Parks Bond Committee, disagrees. Although he abstained from voting on what the committee should support, he said he has now decided he likes none of the three options.
“It’s a half-cent more on everything I pay for,” he said. “I don’t want to pay it. I’m tired of it. I won’t support any tax or bond measure unless they can guarantee me that it won’t make me bankrupt.”
O’Brien added he felt the Point Dume donation that included money for ball fields, which was part of the original Malibu Bay Company (MBC) Development Agreement, would have been the better option. The new MBC agreement does not have that on the table. O’Brien said the city missed its chance.
Chris Hasselquist, incoming-president of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, said he did not know enough about the survey to comment on a half-cent sales tax hike coming to Malibu. But he added the topic would be discussed at the next chamber meeting.
The survey results could be ready for the City Council as soon as the first week of August. If it approves a bond measure election, it would be done through the mail. This election could occur at any time, and only property owners would vote on it. A half-cent sales tax increase ballot, which all registered voters would vote on, would need to take place on a designated election day. AB 1412 would also need to be passed in Sacramento for the council to have that option available.