Stanton Ca Taxes

As expected, the City Council this week approved a 6% utility tax, which will begin appearing on gas, water, electricity and telephone bills starting in July. City officials said the utility tax is necessary because of a decrease in property taxes and other money that the state shares with cities. "The state continues to spend and spend and spend, so we are in the situation of raising money for them," Mayor Don Martinez told a packed council chamber at Tuesday's meeting.

A war of words between the City Council and Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) over a new city tax has escalated, with Pringle mailing 400 letters calling the tax "outrageous." At a March council meeting, Stanton Mayor Don Martinez blamed the 6% utility tax--intended to plug the city's $1.4-million budget deficit--on the "bums" in the state Legislature for shifting property taxes and other money from the city.

The City Council has narrowly approved a $12.5-million budget, balancing income with expenditures by laying off a city employee and raising some fees and taxes, city officials said. The council approved the budget last week by a 3-2 vote, with Mayor Sal Sapien, Councilmen Don Martinez and Joe V. Harris voting in favor, and Councilmen David John Shawver and Harry M. Dotson voting against, City Clerk Darleen Cordova said Wednesday.