Local Voices
No New Taxes! No New Fees!
Inflation is hitting all of us. It's not the time for new taxes or fees, and it is the time to give residents a break!
Families and small businesses in Santa Monica feel the squeeze of rising inflation every day. The last thing our community needs is another local tax hike or hidden fee dumped onto their bills. Municipal government shouldn't treat residents like an open checkbook whenever budget deficits show up. Therefore, reluctantly, I am withdrawing my endorsement of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District proposed Measure ES from the November 3rd ballot. Measure ES was sold to me as a way to maintain our joint city-school district Playground Partnership. Instead, the $495 annual homeowner parcel tax can rise yearly under an inflation-increase clause and has no end date; Malibu schools also benefit from the parcel tax without its residents being taxed, and the money goes to the SMMUSD general fund rather than the use I expected. I urge you to vote NO on Measure ES.
We need strict fiscal discipline inside City Hall. That means auditing current municipal spending, cutting bureaucratic waste, and directing our existing revenue into essential services like public safety and road repairs. Restoring our emergency reserves is vital for our long-term economic health. I'll always stand up against wasteful spending to ensure our tax dollars actually work for our neighborhoods.
Our residents have been "hit" by rising water usage utility bills over the past two years. The increase is over 20%, plus a 10% utility users tax. I propose that the city council, by simple resolution and under Municipal Code 6.72.180, waive the utility users tax on water and sewer charges for the next 12 months to support our residents and, in a small way, alleviate the high fees they face in our city. A $100 water/sewer bill currently costs a water user $120 each month. The reduction would save a user $20. To be very clear, this does not affect the amount of money that flows into the water fund. Let's save our residents some money and show that our city cares about us.
Head to BrockTheVote.org to back our independent campaign! Learn more about Phil Brock and join our movement by donating or volunteering. Let's do this together
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