By Leslie Andrews

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA- The Desert Hot Springs City Council voted unanimously to approve the Parcel Tax ballot initiative to appear to the voters coming in June 2010.

This measure would extend the city’s current property Parcel Tax by another ten years, sunsetting in 2020. In June of 2000, voters approved two measures that would help fund the Police and Fire Departments. The other tax was the Utility Users Tax, which was given new life in May 2009 and has since added four new police officers to the city’s force. This tax also raised the percentage rate by two percent. 

Citizens and committee leaders voiced their opinions during Public Comments to the council, mostly in support. Russ Martin, Vice-Chair of the city’s Public Safety Commission spoke in support of extending the existing tax, provided that there will be no increases. “Increasing in this recession is right for failure,” he said. “If there’s any intent, there will be those who pull out every stop to defeat it. The best chance for the public is to put an extension of the parcel tax.” Martin also added that the proposed annexation to the I-10 Freeway is vital to the city, as one of the conditions to the proposed annexation approved by LAFCO was to have this tax approved.

Jim Kozak of Skybourne Ventures stated, “I look at the parcel tax as an investment in the city. In my 25 years of real estate, I see that prosperous cities are good cities. I’ve come to find the city in the upswing. That draws more investment commitments. They like to see cities that like to invest in themselves.”

Former City Council candidate Robert Bentley accused the council of borrowing $50 million in redevelopment funds and criticized the parcel tax. “We’re going to be short for public safety and there will be an endless set of tax increases. For the next 40 years, the revenue has to go to the debt services. The voters have to vote for what they don’t need to vote for,” he said. Instantly, Council members corrected him by saying that the parcel tax is irrelevant to the Redevelopment Agency funding.

Jim Ferguson, who owns twenty acres of land in the southeast corner of Dillon Road and Palm Drive says that sixty percent of goods needed by Desert Hot Springs residents are purchased elsewhere. He said, “You need to invest in Desert Hot Springs. I urge you to put it on the ballot.”

Police Chief Pat Williams adds that there is no help coming from the State Capital of Sacramento and that cities all throughout California are facing some sort of crisis. “The loss of this funding source will result in the cutback of services. If this does not pass, we will be forced to make difficult decisions. It will reduce other city services,” he warned. “If the city cuts public safety services, Desert Hot Springs will become a less desirable city to live. These measures will protect property values.”

Councilman Karl Baker opened the forum up for discussion after he made his motion. “First of all, 100% of this tax goes to public safety. History has shown us that people are willing to vote for something that it will go for,” he said. “It’s come to the conclusion that we cannot afford to mess with what’s working. The motor’s running. Let’s not fix it. Many people have seen a reduction in their property tax. Continuing this tax will maintain what they have. They will still save money and they will have that same amount for public safety.”

Mayor Yvonne Parks comments, “I think it’s a win-win for everyone when it comes to this tax. We know as a council that a safe and clean community can attract good business. We have a fantastic police force as is and we need to continue that momentum.”