Special to the Town Crier
Los Altos officials are seeking to nearly double the city's utility-user tax in order to provide what they say are needed services. Seniors, however, may not have to pay.
On the Nov. 2 ballot are two measures, H and I, which call for the tax hike. The "H" measure is written as an advisory vote on what the money can be used for, and the "I" is for approval of an increase in the city's utility-user tax from 3.5 percent to 6.25 percent. The tax would provide $1.1 million additional revenue that the state cannot take.
Acknowledging that many Los Altos seniors are on fixed incomes, the city offers a tax exemption for them. Los Altos Councilman King Lear spoke to the Los Altos seniors last Friday at their monthly luncheon explaining how they can go about getting one.
"If this tax passes, seniors who have an annual household income of less than $28,200 a year can apply for the exemption at city hall," Lear said. "At present there are less than 100 exemptions to the present utility tax."
Los Altos Finance Director Starla Jerome-Robinson said seniors who request the exemptions should ask for the "Application for Exemption for Utility User Tax." Staff members at city hall can help with forms. Copies may also be available at the Los Altos Senior Center after the election.
"Once seniors are approved for the exemption, we will send out a confirmation letter each year asking if they still want the exemption," Jerome-Robinson said. "The exemption will be indexed by the consumer price index (CPI), and it will probably be a higher exemption next year."
Lear said he is walking door-to-door on the tax measure and finds very few negative expressions on the tax. "People are polite, and there doesn't seem to be any angst about this in the city," Lear said.
Two seniors asking for approval of the tax are Harry Kallshian and Ruth Koehler.
"As a senior citizen, I can't say I enjoy paying taxes. However, I am willing to invest in my community because the utility-user tax is fair to all. Every penny we pay goes to improve city services," said Kallshian, a former Los Altos mayor.
"As a member of the blue ribbon committee I was appalled at the lack of maintenance on city medium strips, parks and facilities," said Ruth Koehler, also a former Los Altos mayor. "The condition of the Hillview Center is a big concern."