Tax Increase Too Costly?

Chula Vista — Can Chula Vista afford the costs of a tax increase? A lone member of the city's five-member council doesn't think so. Councilman (also current Deputy Mayor) John McCann said "this is not a good time to implement a tax increase." The tax, if approved by voters, will be one of the highest in California at 8.75%. With Chula Vista residents already faced with declining equity and job losses, a 1% Transactional and Use Tax is unlikely to be approved.

At a time of extreme fiscal deficit, Chula Vista cannot afford the added costs of a ballot measure that, according to McCann, could cost the city $230,000-$280,000. McCann doesn't believe it is worth having because if the measure fails, the city will still have to pay the costs.

According to the council resolution, before the special mail ballot can be held in May, a request must first be made to the County Board of Supervisors to permit the Registrar of Voters to conduct such an election and authorize the city clerk to carry out the procedures. Also, the city attorney needs to prepare an impartial analysis of the measure. All of these steps and the actual handling of the election will be costly. McCann unsuccessfully proposed during the last city council meeting (January 20th) the sales of excess land and other alternatives to the tax increase.