The Arcadia City Council approved a 5% tax on interstate and international telephone calls over the strong objections of residents. The tax, which will cost about $.40 per person per month, is expected to generate $225,000 in city revenues, which will help close the gap between the city's general fund expenditures and revenue.
The Arcadia City Council unanimously supports a 5% utility tax on interstate and international telephone calls. The proposed tax will cost about $.40 per person per month.
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.
First community dial office in the Bell system was located in this 29 ft. x 33 ft. building at 19 East Alice. It belonged to Southern California Telephone Company.
Pacific Telephone switchboard in Arcadia. From left:Chief operator Ollie Palmer; Venerotia T. Pratt;operators Viola Grego; Eva Doss; Lucy Sommers; and, Ann Beatty.
1. Arcadia to argue telephone situation before Railroad Commission. Pasadena Star News 10/6/27. 2. Switchboard at work. News photo and caption from March 1927. 3. Phone service. News photo and caption from 1928. 4. Local dial system a first. Arcadia Tribune 8/9/73 (about 1928 service). 5…
View of interior of Pacific Telephone Business Office showing one woman seated at a table. There is a file cabinet, a typewriter, and a safe in the room. Floor appears to be tiled. Location of this office was on North First Avenue.