Transit agency to ask for tax hike

Valley Press on ^ | Sunday, July 6, 2008. | JAMES RUFUS KOREN

[BenLurkin]

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County's mass transit agency this month will likely ask county supervisors to put a half-cent sales tax increase measure on November's ballot, a move aimed at raising tens of billions of dollars to build a Los Angeles subway extension and other projects. While a recent poll shows general voter support for the transportation tax hike, the five county supervisors, who are members of the 13-member Metro board, are not advocating the increase.

And the whole thing could go up in smoke if a related bill by Assemblyman Mark Feuer doesn't make it past state lawmakers.

"Mark Feuer's bill, it has to make it first," said Michael Cano, aide to county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

"If not, then this whole discussion is a moot point. We're not legally able to do it."

The county's Metropolitan Transportation Authority board last week voted to create a draft tax increase proposal, which will go back to the Metro board of directors July 24.

For the measure to go before voters in November, county supervisors must vote in August to place it on the ballot.

The plan to raise the county's sales tax by half a percent for 30 years would raise between $30 billion and $40 billion to pay for numerous transit projects in the county, including freeway improvements and the construction of a subway linking downtown Los Angeles and communities along Santa Monica Bay.

While Metro board members approved preparing a draft - they voted 10-2 in favor, with one member abstaining - one county supervisor is against the tax increase outright, two say they have serious concerns and the other two don't seem head over heels for the plan.

[GOP_Lady]

My husband works for a public transportation authority in our metropolitan region. My husband and I don't like public transportation, don't take public transportation, and don't want public transportation. Two rounds of layoffs are planned, along with a fare increase and reduction in service. The transportation system is millions in the red.

[GOP_Lady]

There are only two good things about public transportation:

(1) My husband being able to retire at the age of 49 after 31 years of service; and

(2) His Public Employees Retirement System check.