STORMWATER PARCEL TAX (MEASURE W – “SAFE CLEAN WATER PROGRAM”) TO GO BEFORE L.A. COUNTY VOTERS IN NOVEMBER

On July 17, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 to put a new property tax before L.A. County voters on the November 6 ballot.

Only Supervisor Kathryn Barger voted against it. Those voting in favor of the tax increase were Sheila Kuehl, Hilda Solis, Mark Ridley-Thomas and Janice Hahn.

This parcel tax — so called because it is levied on each parcel of property, regardless of size or value — would impose an annual charge of 2.5 cents per square foot of “impermeable” surface. That’s buildings, driveways, patios, parking lots and any other surface that does not allow rainwater to permeate into the ground. The tax will affect businesses, apartment buildings and homeowners, raising the cost of living in Los Angeles even higher.

The county has already used satellite photography to assess how much each property owner will be billed. You can see how much they’re planning to bill you with this Stormwater Tax Calculator.

County officials say this tax is needed to pay for compliance with stormwater regulations, but earlier this year the California State Auditor issued a report questioning the need and appropriateness of stormwater regulations that have been imposed without regard to the cost or the burden they place on residents in local jurisdictions. You can read the auditor’s report online here.