What's the proposal?
Measure A would institute a 1.5 cent per square foot parcel tax to help pay to build new parks and maintain existing ones across Los Angeles County. The passage of this measure would net the county about $94.5 million yearly. Like the sales tax hike proposed by Measure M, this tax would not have an expiration date.
Who's behind it?
County supervisors added the measure to the ballot after the parks and recreation department spent 18 months on a survey, which found, among other things, that half of residents don’t live within walking distance of a park.
The back story
Right now, funding for park projects is tied to a tax approved by voters in 1996. That will run out in 2019. Another voter-approved source of funding expired in 2015. County officials say the money raised by this tax will make up for those losses.
Arguments for
- Woefully park poor, LA County needs more open space badly.
- The cost of the tax is relatively small for most LA County homeowners—amounting to just $22.50 per year for a 1,500-square-foot residence.
- Because the measure has no expiration date, officials won’t have to scramble to replace its revenue somewhere down the road.
"This measure to fund open, green, recreational space in all our neighborhoods really ‘hits it out of the park’ with enormous benefits to all our communities. Parks make our neighborhoods healthier and more livable. They provide safe havens for children to play and help combat obesity." -County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl
Arguments against
- Since the proposed tax is based on square footage, businesses based out of larger properties would be disproportionately affected.
- Because the tax has no expiration date, it will be very difficult to get rid of, should County officials ever want to do so.
- Funding would be prioritized for the most park poor parts of the County—which seems like a good thing, but some people seem to think that’s unfair
More info
- Measure to Build New Parks Added to November Ballot [Curbed LA]
- Measure A Placed Onto November Ballot [Department of Parks and Recreation]
- LA County Parks Tax: The Straw That Broke the Camel’s Back? [City Watch]