As we have previously editorialized, the La Habra City Council’s mismanagement of city finances has created a budget crisis. The 0.5% sales tax enacted in 2008 doesn’t expire until 2028. However, the taxers on the city council don’t want to wait that long and are asking voters this November to approve Measure V – which would replace the 0.5% tax with a 1% sales tax that has no expiration date.
Why do they need to push a tax increase measure now, a full four years before their current tax expires? How can they be in a budget crisis already? They lay the blame squarely on their contract with Los Angeles County Fire that was renewed last year. The city’s website reads: “Measure V was placed on the ballot following a yearlong community engagement effort with La Habra residents, businesses, and community groups, after Los Angeles County Fire significantly increased the amount charged to provide Fire Safety/Emergency Medical Response services to the city. Because of the increase- which has already resulted in the City’s closure of one neighborhood fire station and a 27% cut in the number of firefighters/paramedics in our city- coupled with the upcoming expiration of local Measure T, La Habra is facing a significant budget shortfall that may result in impacts to local services.”
This fire contract increased the price by several million dollars per year, and remarkably reduced the number of fire stations in the city from 4 to 3. So, the residents get worse service for substantially more money. With such a shoddy deal on the table you might think the La Habra City Council would insist on getting a competing bid from another agency, such as the Orange County Fire Authority. La Habra is a city within Orange County after all! However, all 5 councilmembers voted to renew with Los Angeles County Fire (while admitting they couldn’t afford the contract), pinning all their hopes for future solvency on higher taxes.
This may seem irrational to the outside observer, but they may be behaving in a perfectly rational way if looked at through their political self-interest. All 3 councilmembers seeking re-election in 2024 (Daren Nigsarian, Rose Espinoza, and Carrie Surich) have received a maximum donation of $4,900 from the Los Angeles County Firefighters union. In addition, the firefighter’s union is spending handsomely on the “Yes on Measure V” campaign.
La Habra residents shouldn’t feel singled out. Los Angeles County Fire is attempting to pass a property tax increase for all residents of Los Angeles County who live in unincorporated areas. If Los Angeles County Fire needs such massive infusions of taxpayer money, it seems like all the more reason for La Habra City Councilmembers to begin looking elsewhere, but that probably means campaign checks from Los Angeles County unions stop.
