Mail-In Election Planned on Tax

Struggling to close a budget shortfall, Arcadia will ask property owners this summer to vote by mail on a special tax that would generate $2.2 million annually for fire services.

The City Council, facing the prospect of eliminating at least a dozen jobs and some city services, will instead ask property owners for more money under a new state law that allows mail-in elections on assessments.

The council voted 4 to 0, with Councilman Sheng Chang absent, to draft a ballot to be mailed next month to 15,577 property owners in the city asking whether they want to pay a special tax to support the city’s Fire Department. It needs a simple majority to pass.

If approved, the property tax would pay for about a quarter of the city’s Fire Department expenses, allowing money previously spent on firefighting to be diverted to other city services, City Manager William Kelly said. Before Tuesday’s vote, council members said they thought it was the best option to raise the money.

The city staff expects to report to the council June 3 and unless the council decides otherwise, ballots would be distributed June 20. Property owners would have until Aug. 5 to mail in their ballots. An Aug. 5 public hearing will be held and the votes counted.