Polling places for Tuesday election

Election on Measure A, a sales-tax hike to pay for slide repairs, is fourth for city voters in three months.Polling sites for the special city election to be held Tuesday will be the same as for the elections held on Oct. 4, Nov. 8 and Dec. 6, with the exception of the School District office at 550 Blumont St., City Clerk Martha Anderson said.

The school board is holding its regular monthly meeting on Dec. 13, so voters from precincts 0044125, 0044144 and 0044148 will vote in the City Council chambers at 505 Forest Avenue.

The city will cover five parking meters in front of City Hall to provide free parking for use by voters only. Signage will be posted at the school district office indicating the change in the polling site.

The single-topic election will decide whether the city will increase its sales tax by one-half percent, from 7.75% to 8.25%, for six years.

The funds raised, estimated at $10 million, will augment the Laguna Beach budget to allow the city to pay for $15 million in estimated costs of repairing damage from the Bluebird Canyon landslide, and funds left over will be placed in a disaster relief fund for future use.

The tax increase is expected to generate $1.7 million each year, and City Manager Ken Frank estimates that $3.5 million -- 10% of the city’s general fund -- can be set aside for the disaster fund.

Polling site information is available from the Orange County Registrar of Voters, www.oc.ca.gov/election, or by calling the city clerk’s office at (949) 497-0705.