Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe plans to change his vote on a transit sales tax next week -- in a move to avoid an expensive separate election.
Friday, he disclosed that at the next meeting of the Board of Supervisors, he will enter a motion to reconsider the board's previous vote on the Metropolitan Transit Authority's (MTA) sales tax measure -- from 'no' to 'yes.'
The new vote gives the MTA sales tax measure gives it the three votes it needs to go before the voters as part of the consolidated November 2008 Presidential Election ballot, and not as a separate election.
Friday morning, according to the supervisor's office, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk informed the board members that the costs of a concurrent election, with the MTA sales tax appearing as a totally separate ballot in the November election, would cost taxpayers an additional $10.3 million.
If the MTA measure were included as part of the main ballot, the cost would be $7.2 million, instead of the $17.5 million estimated for a separate ballot.
"Although I am against the sales tax plan, I cannot in good conscience burden county residents with over $10 million in higher election costs," the supervisor added in a prepared statement.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
.