Taxes Lead in Early Returns

Local tax measures in several Los Angeles County communities appeared to be surviving the first big test of two newly implemented tax limitation laws that give the state’s voters greater power over local levies.

Voters in Bellflower, Paramount and South Pasadena gave their blessing to taxes already being collected in those cities, with all votes counted in unofficial returns. And early results showed tax measures leading in Pasadena, Claremont, El Monte and Lakewood.

Preliminary returns showed a proposed landscaping tax in San Dimas falling short of the two-thirds it would need for approval. (Pasadena is the only other city requiring a two-thirds margin for approval.) San Dimas officials said the assessment now provides $850,000 to maintain public parks, hiking trails and trees.

In Carson, voters were casting a split verdict in early returns, favoring a business tax adjustment and opposing a 1% hotel tax increase.

Joel Fox, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., a sponsor of one of the tax limitations laws, said he thought a key factor in the election results was that voters had gotten used to paying the local taxes.

“They have been convinced by city leaders that the taxes they are paying are necessary,” Fox said. “By no means is the tax revolt dead.”

The tax votes came as voters in dozens of cities picked new city council members and considered local ballot questions ranging from a casino authorization in Hawaiian Gardens to a proposed theater in downtown Monrovia.

A measure to ban billboards in Monterey Park won easily, with all votes counted. And Bellflower voters were supporting a proposal that would allow neighboring Lakewood to establish its own school district. Parts of Lakewood are now within the boundaries of the Bellflower Unified School District, and city leaders are circulating petitions that would allow them to create their own district.

Taxes were the dominant issue in Tuesday’s balloting, with voters in 10 cities making decisions on utility taxes, landscaping assessments and other levies that some of those municipalities have had in place for several years.

The elections marked the first chance for local voters to exercise newly gained power to approve local taxes since implementation of two laws that stemmed from statewide initiatives pushed by anti-tax activists.

The crush of taxation votes came in response to two statewide tax limitation measures--Propositions 218 and 62--that force municipalities to gain voter approval before imposing or extending certain special taxes.

Proposition 218 was approved last year. Proposition 62 passed in 1986 but was not implemented until recently because of court challenges. Both were sponsored by anti-tax activists in response to what they labeled loopholes in Proposition 13, the 1978 measure that slashed property taxes and embodied the modern taxpayer rebellion.

Local officials have been anxious over the effects of the two recent voter initiatives because the cities rely heavily on the special levies. Many have warned residents that rejection could leave gaping holes in local budgets and force them to consider cutting services ranging from recreation programs to law enforcement.

Paramount voters, heeding the warnings of their City Council, agreed by a nearly 3-1 margin to continue a 3% tax on utilities, as well as special taxes on businesses and swap meets. The council argued that the money is needed for police and anti-gang programs.

Fearing the consequences of losing, some cities opted against putting their taxes to a vote, hoping instead that the courts or the state Legislature will come through with a rescue plan.

But even taxpayer activists conceded before election day that voters were likely to approve some of the taxes because they are used to paying them already.

“This isn’t new money coming out of their pocket,” said Fox, of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn.

Voters had more than taxes on their minds as they went to the polls.

Monrovia residents were weighing a controversial proposal to build a 12-screen movie theater in the heart of the city’s Old Town section--a move that officials hope can inject new life into the neighborhood but that opponents said would commercialize the sedate downtown too much.

In Hawaiian Gardens, voters were asked again to approve a casino that officials hope will provide continued funding for the city’s independent Police Department and avoid bankruptcy. The proposed casino, approved at the polls in 1995, has been stalled by court challenges.

Redondo Beach voters weighed a proposal to limit school board members to two terms, a move that was opposed by the school district. Residents also were deciding whether to trim the powers of the city manager.

Residents were voting for new city council members in dozens of cities. West Hollywood voters, who faced a measure to limit the terms of council members, also had the chance to give the council its first gay majority since 1986.

* LOCAL ELECTION TABLES: B5