Anti-gang tax nears ballot

A key Los Angeles City Council committee took a step Wednesday toward putting on the February ballot a $30 million tax measure to fund gang prevention programs. Kerry Cavanaugh in the Daily News.

The measure would levy a parcel tax on property owners, averaging about $40 a year.

The council's Rules and Elections Committee asked the city attorney to draft ballot language that would spell out how the $30 million a year would be awarded to gang prevention and intervention programs and how the city would ensure the money is spent

The measure, introduced by Councilwoman Janice Hahn, is scaled back from an earlier $50 million parcel-tax proposal in order to make it more appealing to voters.