Arcadia seeks to extend the right to collect cell phone usage tax. Officials plan to hold a special election in May or June in 2009 for a ballot measure. If communicated to voters correctly, it should pass, because it would not raise the tax but protect the city's revenues. At stake is about $1 million in yearly revenue. To do that, voters must allow the city to legally redefine what a telecommunications tax is. Recent court rulings have suggested cities cannot tax cell phone use by relying on older telecommunications tax ordinances.
Arcadia will benefit from the State Municipal Advisory Reform Team : Enhanced Report (SMARTER) plan for restructuring local government finance which will help stop the city's dependence on sales tax.
Many San Gabriel Valley cities are seeing an increase in property tax revenues in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, namely San Marino, Arcadia, Bradbury, Alhambra and South Pasadena. Arcadia's property tax revenue is expected to be $3,359,282.80 compared to $3,294,314.77 in 2008-2009. Other cities' figures are given. In the average city, property taxes make up 11% of the city budget.
In this ailing economy, San Gabriel Valley property values have dropped significantly, as reflected in the county's home assessments. The county property roll is at $1.1 trillion, a nearly 1% decrease compared to 2008. Homeowners will have smaller tax bills but cities are having to reduce services and employees as they lose businesses, sales tax revenue, and property tax revenue. See a chart of Los Angeles County Assessor's Office property values report showing Arcadia and neighboring cities. Arcadia is a city whose 2009 value increased 2.2% compared to last year.
County Assessor reports solid growth for Arcadia in 2020 Assessment Roll. The Roll for 2020 has been closed and it reflects solid growth for Arcadia and the rest of the County. However, the Roll is pre-COVID. This comprehensive tally values more than 2.5 million real estate parcels in Los Angeles County and results in the very tax dollars that goes to pay for vital public services, such as healthcare, police, fire, schools, and even librarians, to name just a few. The County Assessor is constitutionally mandated to close the roll by the end of the Fiscal Year on June 30. The 2020 Assessment Roll has a total net value of $1.7 trillion, indicating the 10th year of consecutive growth. That value places $17 billion in the hands of the County to be used for those public services I just mentioned. This year the Roll has an added dynamic, the COVID-19 pandemic. Locally, Arcadia for 2020 came in at $18.3 billion for taxable values, which is a 4.4% increase over last year’s numbers. That includes 14,854 single-family homes, 809 apartment complexes, 995 commercial-industrial parcels for a grand total of 16,658 taxable properties. Growth is steady in Arcadia.
More importantly, that $18.3 billion translates into about $183 million for vital public services such as public safety, healthcare and public education that benefits Arcadia.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed taking 8% of the property tax that cities receive. That would mean a loss of $1,202,358 for Arcadia. A chart shows how much other local cities may lose.
City of Arcadia to place three measures on November 8, 2022 ballot. 1. Proposed City Charter Amendment Measure. The City Charter was last amended in 1998. The citizen-led Charter Review Committee recommends updates to mirror changes in state laws since 1998 and to reflect current local government standards, to include a) mirroring changes in state laws to increase voter turnout by moving the date of regularly scheduled city council elections from April in even-numbered years to the November Statewide General Election in even-numbered years. b) recognizing the city's change to by-district elections as required by California Voting Rights Act. c) Creating a rotation of mayor and mayor pro tem positions every 9.5 months to allow all council members to serve during their term. d) Change position of City Clerk from elected to appointed. e) other amendments to streamline government, utilize technology and increase transparency. 2. Two measures to increase locally controlled funding. One measure would increase Arcadia's local tax on stays at hotels and motels from 10% to 12%--similar rate to many neighboring cities. The other measure would enact a local tax on sports wagers if sports betting becomes legal in California through State Proposition 26, also on the November ballot
Arcadia voters will decide, in a special election next week, whether or not to approve ballot Measure A, which seeks to protect the city's right to collect taxes on cell phone usage. Measure A would not raise any taxes. The city already collects taxes on residential cell phone usage and is seeking to legally protect that practice by redefining what constitutes a telecommunications tax.
Arcadia Board of Education selected Genna Helmberger as Arcadia Teacher of the Year for 2003-2004. She is an 8th grade science teacher at Dana Middle School (picture).
Area girl Andrea Trinkle of Foothills Middle School participates in the Girls Day in Science event at Pasadena City College where she learns about life and physical sciences with hands-on activities. A photo is included.
Arcadia voters have approved ballot Measure A with 2091 people voting yes and 643 voting no. The measure protects the city's right to collect taxes on cell phone use. Measure A will not raise taxes.
Obituary/death notice.
In Loving Memory of Jean Irwin Lewis, Aug. 21, 1914 - Nov. 7, 2006. Jean was born in El Monte, California. She was the school nurse at Rosemead High School for 26 years. After retirement in 1976, Jean enjoyed traveling and her second home in Mexico. She has been active with the Arcadia Senior Friendship Club and the Arcadia Presbyterian Church. Jean always had a zest for living and enjoyed new experiences. Her husband, Jim Lewis, and daughter, Sally Lash, survive her. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation or the Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, Covina, in her name.