CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
January 21, 1994 | ALICIA DI RADO
Residents will see higher taxes on their utility bills if Santa Ana goes ahead with its plan to build a police headquarters and a large jail. The proposed utility users tax increase, expected to be 1%, has been the target of a bitter debate in recent months. About 30 people attended this week's City Council meeting to protest the proposal. Residents will have another chance to tell the City Council how they feel about the increase at a public hearing at 6 p.m. Feb.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
June 5, 1991 | GEBE MARTINEZ, TIMES STAFF WRITER
Troubled by a proposed city budget that includes higher utility taxes and not enough money for municipal code enforcement officers, the City Council has decided to delay its vote for two weeks on the $242.4-million spending plan. Among those voicing concerns over the proposed budget were Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce officials who oppose the city's plans to raise the cap on the utility tax because it would hurt businesses, they said. The current cap is $6,000 per year per business.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
December 15, 1991 | GEBE MARTINEZ
Sitting in the Santa Ana City Council chambers recently, a song from the Broadway musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" kept running through my mind. No, I was not thinking of prostitutes. I was remembering the little diddle, "The Sidestep"--a tune sung by the governor as he dodged public questioning over whether an infamous whorehouse in the heart of rural Texas should be closed down. "Ooooooohhh, I love to dance a little sidestep. Now they see me, now they don't.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
September 18, 1991 | GREG HERNANDEZ
The City Council on Monday gave low-income residents a tax break by unanimously approving higher exemption levels for household utility bills. The new exemption levels, which are consistent with the levels set by the state Public Utilities Commission, will now be based on family size.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
May 20, 1991 | GREG HERNANDEZ
Owners of multistory buildings in the downtown area of the city will decide in a special election this month whether to approve a new tax to pay for special equipment to fight fires in tall buildings. The proposed tax, which would be added to annual property tax bills, is 16 cents per square foot for buildings three stories or higher, excluding parking structures. The fee would be implemented gradually over a four-year period and does not affect single-family homeowners.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
October 19, 1993 | JON NALICK, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Noting that drug dealers, prostitutes and other misdemeanor offenders routinely go free because of lack of jail space, city officials Monday unveiled plans for a $90-million city jail that would cost residents an extra 1% of their utility bills. The County Jail, which the city now uses, is "like a revolving door," Police Chief Paul M. Walters told the Santa Ana City Council Monday night during a slide-show presentation by city staff. "You can't hold people accountable.