Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 11/10/1999 All articles from this issue

Residents cite need for better services but don't want tax hike to pay for them

printer friendly version

By Joanne Griffith Domingue

Special to the Town Crier

City council, three seats

Louis Becker 4,814 votes 25.6 percent

Francis LaPoll 4,498 23.9

Kris Casto 4,143 22.0

Ron Knecht 3,095 16.5

Noah Mesel 2,247 12.0

Los Altos Measure H

Advisory to use utility tax increases for maintenance, recreation and public safety:

Yes 3,941 57.4 percent

No 2,925 42.6 percent

Los Altos Measure I

Los Altos residents indicated they want increased city maintenance, recreation and public safety services by passing the Measure H advisory with a 57.4 percent "yes" vote on Nov. 2. However, they don't want to pay for increases with a hike in the utility-user tax, which voters defeated with a 51.3 percent "no" vote.

Voters "clearly want the council to do these things," said Los Altos City Councilman Francis La Poll, who won a second four-year council term. "But they're not sure how they want us to pay for them."

The increase from 3.5 percent to 6.25 percent would have cost each homeowner about $100 per year and raised $1.1 million annually for the city.

Mayor Lou Becker said that for the voters, "The value was not as good as the cost." Becker, the top vote-getter in the elections, won a second four-year term on the council.

For Councilwoman Kris Casto, the failure of the tax increase "is not a negative. We're not taking anything away." Casto won a second four-year term on the council.

But she was surprised that the tax didn't pass. If voters "elected us, you think they'd pass the tax, too," since all three incumbents supported the tax increase.

Ron Knecht, who finished fourth in the council race for three seats, campaigned aggressively against the utility-user tax increase. He believes "the tax would have passed if I hadn't gotten into the race. The 'yes' on H and I people would have swept to victory. They are an awesomely efficient and well-oiled machine."

Councilman King Lear, who is two years into his first four-year council term, was the chairman of the campaign to pass the tax increase. He could not be reached for comment.

Noah Mesel, who ran for the council but finished fifth in the field of five, believes voters were saying that increasing the utility-user tax "is not an appropriate way" to raise city funds. Mesel campaigned on a platform that said there are other, better ways to increase city income.

Mesel points to the two hotel projects in the planning phase, the Four Seasons site and the Tree Farm location of El Camino Real. "Both will generate significant revenue for the city," he said. "If that's the case, the city won't have to worry too much longer about revenue it won't get from the utility tax." Even so, Mesel said he was "extremely surprised" the tax did not pass.

A question on the minds of many is what will happen to the two new motorcycle traffic officers. They began in January, funded by a two-year federal grant. City officials had hoped to continue funding them from the tax revenue. What now?

"That's a good question," Becker said. "Something has to give. We must decide on priorities. The program won't be expanded and may be cut back."

La Poll, though disappointed the tax didn't pass, believes "this council is good at making decisions and will press on."

Disappointment hit city staff hard. Many had hoped to be able to increase service. The planning department is especially busy processing construction permits, remodel applications and the two hotel projects.

With the tax increase, "We could do a lot of things the community has asked for, projects the community wanted," said Planning Director Larry Tong.

The tax increase was rejected by 188 votes. "Overall it seemed real close," Tong said, which makes its failure to pass "that much more disappointing."

Casto said the council will "regroup and be as creative as we can be."