With two-thirds of likely Culver City voters in a May survey giving their support to a half-cent sales tax, the City Council is poised to unanimously vote it onto the November ballot.
The declared intention is to preserve city services and narrow the budget deficit.
Inspected closer, 20 percent said there is a “great need,” and 48 percent “some need” for such an increase.
Community meetings to smooth out objections are scheduled between Monday, June 18, and the Council vote for ballot placement on Monday, July 23.
There was scarcely a surprising or disappointing finding with one stunning neon exception:
Out of nowhere, and at least in partial rationalization for chasing a ballot measure, it was revealed that Sacramento has taken from City Hall a staggering $29 million during the past decade in funds originally marked for city services. Mayor Andy Weissman, by far the leading veteran on the dais, never had heard such a number before.
In a lengthy but compact 90-minute report ushering in opening night of Council budget discussions last evening, Rick Sklarz of the Santa Monica-based research firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates – FM3, promptly established an upbeat tone at the outset.
Sunny Days, All Day
Surveying the outcome of May 22-24 telephone polling of 400 residents, – which carries a plus/minus 4.9 percent margin of error – Mr. Sklarz concluded that:
“Overwhelmingly, the people of this community feel very positively about their city government. They feel good about the direction of their city, and people are happy with city services.”
No mystery why. This is not mom and dad’s Culver City. It has changed almost entirely for the better in recent years.
Seventy-eight percent of voters said the avalanche of revitalization, especially Downtown, during the past decade, and 75 percent said safe neighborhoods are the leading reasons that they love where they live.
The widespread sunny attitude of Culver City residents “is the diametric opposite of virtually everywhere else in California,” and especially in Los Angeles County, Mr. Sklarz said.
“Regarding what voters care about in the ballot measure itself, accountability is quite important, as it is in every community these days,” he said. “They want their taxes used appropriately.”
Attaching an end date – 10 years and 5 years were dangled as options – to the potential sales tax hike did not affect intensity of support.
As a companion to the 68 percent support for a half-cent sales tax increase, 78 percent said Culver City is moving in the right direction.
Don’t Go Too Far
But voter backing has a limit. They were much cooler – 48 percent – toward a three-quarter cent sales tax increase.
Seventy percent said it is “very accurate” or “somewhat accurate” to rate City Hall as fiscally responsible.
Eighty-two percent feared reducing city services would shrink property values while 74 percent said the city’s economy would take a hit if the number of police officers and firefighters were trimmed.
In post-survey questioning by the Council, Mehaul O’Leary posed a toughie for City Atty. Carol Schwab about the tone he and his colleagues should strike in promoting the half-cent sales tax hike.
Elected officials, Ms. Schwab said, may “educate not advocate.”
What is the difference?
The distinction remained elusive to all on the dais. Ms. Schwab is expected to be asked to issue a clarifying memo.
The thorough x-ray of the three-day survey came after a number of activists had spoken on the perceived perils of fracking and jointly touted a 7 o’clock state-sponsored community meeting on fracking in Council Chambers next Tuesday night at 7.
All of this left a midgetary corner for what was supposed to be the headline event, a department-by-department examination of their budgets, historically a matter of less than zero interest to residents.
Only three departments were heard from (City Manager, City Clerk, City Attorney) before the Council adjourned at 11:30.
They return this evening at 6:30 to try and catch up.
Asst. City Manager Martin Cole said the survey results would be online today at culvercity.org
