West Hollywood Ca Taxes

Bracing for more hits on the local cash box, the West Hollywood City Council this week prepared to pass a municipal budget that includes a new utility tax--the city's first. The 4% tax on gas, electricity and telephone bills will garner $1 million next year. Officials said they will seek the utility tax only if state lawmakers follow through with a plan to reallocate up to $1.2 million in West Hollywood property taxes to help balance the state budget.

Bracing for more hits on the local cash box, the West Hollywood City Council this week prepared to pass a municipal budget that includes a new utility tax--the city's first. The 4% tax on gas, electricity and telephone bills will garner $1 million next year. Officials said they will seek the utility tax only if state lawmakers follow through with a plan to reallocate up to $1.2 million in West Hollywood property taxes to help balance the state budget.

No new taxes--not yet, anyway. The West Hollywood City Council on Tuesday put off talk of raising taxes to solve a projected $2-million deficit, although it managed to close less than half that gap through spending cuts for next year. The council, which was scheduled to open hearings on a first-ever utility tax, decided after making a string of budget cuts to wait until it has a more solid shortfall figure in hand.

The average West Hollywood resident will pay $43 a year in new utility taxes under a proposed budget that goes before the City Council next month. The budget calls for raising $1 million through a 4% levy on gas, electricity and telephone bills--the city's first utility tax. The tax would close what remains of a $2-million projected shortfall in the $38.2-million budget proposal for fiscal 1994, a gap that local officials blame on an expected loss of property taxes allocated by the state.

The West Hollywood City Council will hold a special meeting March 30 to discuss spending cuts before considering new taxes as a way to close an anticipated $1.7-million deficit next year. Already under fire from tax foes, the council Monday put off taking the first step toward establishing a utility tax and raising its hotel levy until after the meeting. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in Fiesta Hall at Plummer Park.

City councils in Compton and West Hollywood approved new taxes at meetings Monday, but councils in Pomona and San Fernando rejected revenue-producing measures proposed to beat the possible passage of Proposition 136 on today's ballot. If Proposition 136 passes, it will take effect at midnight tonight and prohibit local communities from imposing new taxes without first getting voter approval. At a special meeting Monday, the Compton City Council agreed to double its utility tax from 5% to 10%.

The average West Hollywood resident will pay $43 a year in new utility taxes under a proposed budget that goes before the City Council next month. The budget calls for raising $1 million through a 4% levy on gas, electricity and telephone bills--the city's first utility tax. The tax would close what remains of a $2-million projected shortfall in the $38.2-million budget proposal for fiscal 1994, a gap that local officials blame on an expected loss of property taxes allocated by the state.

No new taxes--not yet, anyway. The West Hollywood City Council on Tuesday put off talk of raising taxes to solve a projected $2-million deficit, although it managed to close less than half that gap through spending cuts for next year. The council, which was scheduled to open hearings on a first-ever utility tax, decided after making a string of budget cuts to wait until it has a more solid shortfall figure in hand.

The West Hollywood City Council will hold a special meeting March 30 to discuss spending cuts before considering new taxes as a way to close an anticipated $1.7-million deficit next year. Already under fire from tax foes, the council Monday put off taking the first step toward establishing a utility tax and raising its hotel levy until after the meeting. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in Fiesta Hall at Plummer Park.

City councils in Compton and West Hollywood approved new taxes at meetings Monday, but councils in Pomona and San Fernando rejected revenue-producing measures proposed to beat the possible passage of Proposition 136 on today's ballot. If Proposition 136 passes, it will take effect at midnight tonight and prohibit local communities from imposing new taxes without first getting voter approval. At a special meeting Monday, the Compton City Council agreed to double its utility tax from 5% to 10%.