Westminster Ca Taxes

A proposal to base the city's business license tax on gross sales has won preliminary approval from the City Council. The council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to scrap the annual flat tax of $50 and replace it with one based on 0.1% of annual gross sales or a minimum tax of $100 a year. "This is a key part of our budget balancing effort for 1995-96," said City Manager Bill Smith, adding that the city is facing a $1.9-million shortfall for the next fiscal year.

After applauding the city's "prudent budgeting," the City Council unanimously passed an ordinance this week that will save residents approximately $2.80 per housing unit. The ordinance lowers the city's utility users tax 1%. A Financial Review Committee last year determined that a reduction of the tax from 5% to 4% was possible in light of the city's surplus in general funds. Council members believed residents could benefit as the result of the city's healthy financial condition.

After a flood of complaints from small businesses about a change in the annual license tax, the City Council has made revisions to correct what it says was an error. The recently adopted change was supposed to reduce the business license tax for many small enterprises. But, because of the way the ordinance was worded, many merchants were hit with huge tax bills.

After applauding the city's "prudent budgeting," the City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Tuesday that will save residents approximately $2.80 per housing unit. The ordinance lowers the city's utility users tax 1%. A Financial Review Committee last year determined that a reduction of the tax from 5% to 4% was possible in light of the city's surplus in general funds. Council members believed residents could benefit as the result of the city's healthy financial condition.

A state appellate court in Santa Ana ruled unconstitutional Thursday Proposition 62, an initiative sponsored by Howard Jarvis in 1986 that requires voters to approve all taxes imposed by local governments. Ruling that the Westminster City Council has the authority to impose a utility users tax without a citywide vote, the 4th District Court of Appeal unanimously reversed a decision by a Santa Ana Superior Court judge who in January declared Proposition 62 "constitutional and enforceable."

A developer may have abandoned plans to build a pedestrian bridge in Little Saigon, city officials said, but there are still bills to be paid for the project. The City Council voted Tuesday night to levy a $250,000 tax on the group of property owners who had proposed to build a $3-million bridge spanning Bolsa Avenue. That amount will cover the city's cost of establishing a special tax assessment district, as well as related legal, financial and engineering fees, officials said.

After applauding the city's "prudent budgeting," the City Council unanimously passed an ordinance this week that will save residents approximately $2.80 per housing unit. The ordinance lowers the city's utility users tax 1%. A Financial Review Committee last year determined that a reduction of the tax from 5% to 4% was possible in light of the city's surplus in general funds. Council members believed residents could benefit as the result of the city's healthy financial condition.

After applauding the city's "prudent budgeting," the City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Tuesday that will save residents approximately $2.80 per housing unit. The ordinance lowers the city's utility users tax 1%. A Financial Review Committee last year determined that a reduction of the tax from 5% to 4% was possible in light of the city's surplus in general funds. Council members believed residents could benefit as the result of the city's healthy financial condition.

A developer may have abandoned plans to build a pedestrian bridge in Little Saigon, city officials said, but there are still bills to be paid for the project. The City Council voted Tuesday night to levy a $250,000 tax on the group of property owners who had proposed to build a $3-million bridge spanning Bolsa Avenue. That amount will cover the city's cost of establishing a special tax assessment district, as well as related legal, financial and engineering fees, officials said.

After a flood of complaints from small businesses about a change in the annual license tax, the City Council has made revisions to correct what it says was an error. The recently adopted change was supposed to reduce the business license tax for many small enterprises. But, because of the way the ordinance was worded, many merchants were hit with huge tax bills.

A proposal to base the city's business license tax on gross sales has won preliminary approval from the City Council. The council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to scrap the annual flat tax of $50 and replace it with one based on 0.1% of annual gross sales or a minimum tax of $100 a year. "This is a key part of our budget balancing effort for 1995-96," said City Manager Bill Smith, adding that the city is facing a $1.9-million shortfall for the next fiscal year.

A state appellate court in Santa Ana ruled unconstitutional Thursday Proposition 62, an initiative sponsored by Howard Jarvis in 1986 that requires voters to approve all taxes imposed by local governments. Ruling that the Westminster City Council has the authority to impose a utility users tax without a citywide vote, the 4th District Court of Appeal unanimously reversed a decision by a Santa Ana Superior Court judge who in January declared Proposition 62 "constitutional and enforceable."