Ahead of the election Tuesday, voters in Temple City are considering a three-quarter-cent sales tax increase to fund a range of local services, including road maintenance and 911 emergency response.
According to Measure TC, which the City Council put on the March 3 ballot, an estimated $2.5 million annually generated by the proposed tax will go toward maintaining city services “such as 9-1-1 emergency/fire/paramedic/police response, maintain streets and repair potholes, addressing property crimes/thefts, maintaining parks, address homelessness, keeping public spaces safe/clean, and for general government use.”
Funds generated by the tax hike would go into the city’s general fund and may be used for any city general fund purpose, according to the proposed ordinance. The tax would be subject to annual independent auditing and public disclosure requirements and if passed will remain in effect until voters end it.
In addition to bolstering public safety, proponents of the measure said local “roads deteriorate faster than the city can afford to repair them,” according to a pro-Measure TC website. “Delaying maintenance only makes it more expensive.”
Proponents added that funds from the additional 0.75% tax added to all purchases other than food or pharmacy prescriptions will help “maintain parks, address homelessness, and keep public areas clean.”
Supporters of the measure include Temple City Mayor Cynthia Sternquist; Councilmen Ed Chen and Vince Yu; Donna Georgino, a local school district trustee; Alton Wang, Pasadena City College trustee; and Carl L. Blum, a retired deputy director of the Los Angeles County Public Works Department.
No public arguments against the measure were immediately available. The city’s voter information guide only has arguments in favor of the tax increase.
Voters can mail ballots postage-free that must be postmarked by Tuesday, March 3 and received by the city not more than seven days later. Drop boxes for ballots are available outside City Hall, on Kaufman Avenue and at in-person voting locations — City Hall Community Room, 9701 Las Tunas Drive, and Live Oak Park, 10144 Bogue St.
A sample ballot is on the city’s website.
