The city of Palm Springs is taking a break from solving the world’s leaf blower issues and is considering a ballot measure which will ask to raise the sales tax in the city to a ridiculously high 9.25 percent because, well, Palm Springs is the worst.
By raising the sales tax 50 cents, Palm Springs would reach the highest sales tax rate of any city in Riverside County and the city anticipates raising an extra $6.5 million per year, according to the Desert Sun. But many voters feel as if the city is spinning the language of the the measure.
The city has paid Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates, a Los Angeles-based firm, $20,200 to gauge residents on their willingness to support the new tax hike. Several residents complained on Facebook that City Hall was using public safety as a cover and avoiding politically tough cuts to the budget.
“They are asking questions about how best to spin the ballot measures,” wrote Joseph Hahn, an estate planning attorney.
The Desert Sun began asking city officials for a copy of the survey on Monday and had not received it as of Wednesday morning.
The city’s drafted ballot language says the additional tax money could go to a full range of city services, including police, fire, 911 call response, homelessness services, affordable housing, parks and the libraries.
Nowhere in the language of the ballot does it mention that Palm Springs might not have a cashflow problem had it not handed over $43 million in taxpayer money to a downtown development at the center of a corruption case in which developers are alleged to have bribed the former mayor of the city. I guess there just wasn’t enough room on the ballot.
The city has seen costs related to pensions and healthcare for retirees increase dramatically in the past few years which, as the newspaper points out, is the result of having more employees than other municipalities the same size of Palm Springs.
Council members will consider the tax measure at tonight’s meeting in Palm Springs, which is the last chance for them to approve it going on the ballot.
What a well run city.
Update: It’s happening.
The measure will require a simple majority from voters to be approved https://t.co/1KrSgckHF8
— The Desert Sun (@MyDesert) July 27, 2017
