Duarte Councilman Phil Reyes Votes Against Declaring Fiscal Emergency

By Arianna Locatell

A tax measure on the Nov. 6 ballot that would add up to a half-percentage point to the sales tax failed Tuesday night during a vote at the regular city council meeting.
Councilman Phil Reyes was against declaring a fiscal emergency that would have cleared the way for a sales tax measure on the ballot.
The city will now have to find other sources of revenue which will ultimately mean more cuts.
Closing their public safety office on Fridays, reducing their graffiti removal contract, reducing youth and senior services, and postponing their tree-trimming services, the city has made numerous cuts to the already strapped city budget.
There were two considerations for the city sales tax: one would add a quarter-percent to the tax and generate $1 million a year, the other would add a half-percent and generate $2 million. If voters had the opportunity to approve the sales tax initiative, it would have allowed the city to restore their recently-cut public services and it would prevent future cuts according to city officials.

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