Los Angeles County Measures
A. Homelessness Services and Affordable Housing Ordinance
TLDR: ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY ANOTHER 50 CENTS PER $100 SPENT FOR THE HOUSING CRISIS?
If you prioritize increasing funding to address homelessness and provide affordable housing, with more oversight and support services like mental health care, you would vote YES on Measure A.
If you prioritize limiting additional taxes and believe current funding is sufficient for homelessness services and housing, you would vote NO on Measure A.
DETAILS
Measure A for Los Angeles County proposes a 1/2 cent sales tax to fund affordable housing and homelessness services, raising an estimated $1.1 billion annually. The tax would replace the current Measure H tax and focus on providing rental assistance, mental health support, and addiction treatment to help reduce homelessness. It also includes measures to ensure accountability through audits and oversight.
Yes Vote: A “yes” vote would repeal the current Measure H tax and replace it with a 1/2 cent sales tax. This tax would raise over $1 billion annually to fund affordable housing, rental assistance, mental health and addiction treatment, and services to reduce and prevent homelessness. It would also provide specific support for children, veterans, families, domestic violence survivors, seniors, and people with disabilities. The measure would include new audits and oversight to ensure accountability and results.
No Vote: A “no” vote would prevent the state from borrowing $10 billion, halting the proposed investments in climate resilience, environmental protection, and water infrastructure.
WHAT TO KNOW
Background: Measure A is intended to build on the work done by the Measure H tax, which was passed in 2017 to fund homelessness prevention. However, with the ongoing housing crisis and increasing homelessness in LA County, Measure A aims to significantly expand funding for these services.
Impact on Californians: If passed, this measure would generate more funding for services aimed at vulnerable populations, including veterans, families, and domestic violence survivors. The increased resources would be used to prevent homelessness and provide mental health and addiction treatment for those at risk.
This tax would replace the existing Measure H tax, so the financial burden would not be an entirely new one, but rather an increase from the previous 1/4 cent to 1/2 cent.
Budget Implications: The county expects it to raise about $1.1 billion annually, which will be managed with audits and oversight to ensure proper use of funds.
E. Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County Emergency Response and Infrastructure Ordinance
TLDR: DO YOU WANT TO TAX HOME AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENTS TO SUPPORT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT?
If you prioritize improving emergency response times, upgrading outdated firefighter equipment, and ensuring better preparedness for wildfires and medical emergencies, you would vote YES.
If you prioritize avoiding additional property taxes and believe the fire department's current funding is sufficient to maintain services, you would vote NO.
Measure E proposes a 6 cents per square foot parcel tax on improved properties to fund upgrades and support for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The measure includes exemptions for low-income seniors, a 2% annual adjustment limit, and oversight by an independent citizens' commission
.Yes Vote: A “yes” would approve the new parcel tax, which would provide additional funding for emergency response services, equipment upgrades, and infrastructure improvements for the LA County Fire Department. It would increase resources to manage wildfires, house fires, medical emergencies, and accidents.
No Vote: A “no” vote reject the proposed parcel tax, meaning the LA County Fire Department would not receive the additional funding for emergency response upgrades, and current levels of service and equipment maintenance would remain unchanged.
WHAT TO KNOW
Background: The LA County Fire Department is responsible for responding to various emergencies, including wildfires, house fires, medical incidents, and car accidents. The department has reported the need for more funding to hire and train personnel, replace aging fire engines, helicopters, and safety equipment, and upgrade its 911 communication system. This measure aims to address these needs through a dedicated tax.
Impact on Angelenos: If passed, the measure would improve emergency response times, firefighter safety, and overall disaster readiness for residents of Los Angeles County by charging six cents per square foot for property developments, but low-income seniors would be exempt.
Budget Implications: The proposed parcel tax is expected to generate $152 million annually, with a limit on annual increases of 2%. Low-income seniors would be exempt from the tax.
G. LA County Government Structure, Ethics and Accountability Charter Amendment
TLDR: DO YOU THINK FIVE PEOPLE SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY OR DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE NINE PLUS AN ELECTED CHIEF EXECUTIVE?
If you think that the current Board of Supervisors has too much power, and you want more accountability to the Board, you would vote YES.
If you are good with the current set up, which was developed when half a million people lived in LA (now we have nearly 10 million), you would vote NO.
Amendment G proposes to create an elected County Executive, establish an independent Ethics Commission, and increase the Board of Supervisors from five to nine members, among other changes. It also mandates annual public budget presentations by County departments, with no new taxes required for implementation. Currently, the Chief County Executive is chosen by the Supervisors; the amendment would change this to an elected position.
Yes Vote: A “yes” would create the office of an elected County Executive, an independent Ethics Commission, and an expansion of the Board of Supervisors from five to nine members, without requiring new taxes. Each Supervisor would represent 1.1 million people.
No Vote: A “no” vote would keep power consolidated to five Board of Supervisors, a system that was set up when Los Angeles had around half a million people.
WHAT TO KNOW
Background: This measure stems from ongoing concerns about transparency, accountability, and governance in Los Angeles County, particularly regarding the power of the Board of Supervisors and ethics oversight. It was introduced to address these issues by proposing structural reforms to decentralize power, enhance ethical standards, and increase public involvement in the budget process.
Impact on Angelenos: If passed, the impact on Angelenos would be increased representation, stronger ethical oversight, and more transparency in county governance without additional taxes.
Budget Implications: The amendment says that taxes cannot be raised to pay for this, however, there will be associated costs that will need to be paid from somewhere - approximately $8 million.