City Council Discuss Measure K Funds, Considers Citizens Oversight Committee

ByVicky Nguyen

City Council members addressed concerns on how fundsfrom Measure K, or the Keep Monrovia Revenue Local Sales Tax, would be spentshould the local sales tax measure pass, during a City Council meeting onTuesday. In anticipation of the measure passing, City Council deliberated howto best reach out to the community for input, including the possibility of acitizen’s oversight committee.

Measure K would raise the local tax by 0.75% to the highestrate allowed by law at 10.25%. This would prevent L.A. County and otherorganizations from imposing any other taxes. While the city would receive anestimated $4.5 million per year if the measure passes, the City Council acknowledgedthe lack of definitive plan for how that money would be spent.

“Where that money is going to be spent? I know our CityCouncil is very deeply concerned about that money and how it will be spent andwill want to include the community on that.” Councilmember Becky Shevlin said.“No one wants to see increased taxes. This is a question as to who’s going tohave control over that .75 gap? It will be filled by someone. And we’re sayingwe’d rather it be us, that we have control over that money,” Shevlin added.

Mayor Pro Tem Larry Spicer openly expressed hissupport for the measure.

“I just voted by mail. I voted for the measurebecause I prefer to give it to the city than to some other organization,” Spicersaid. “The money that the city receives, it can go out and do some other thingsthat we need to fix in the community.”

Voters will be able to vote on the measure on duringthe special election on Nov. 5.

City council members addressed concerns on how funds from Measure K, or the Keep Monrovia Revenue Local Sales Tax, would be spent, should the local sales tax measure pass during a city council meeting on Tuesday.

In anticipation of the measure passing, city council deliberated how to best reach out to the community for input, including the possibility of a citizen’s oversight committee.

Measure K would raise the local tax by 0.75% to highest rate allowed by law at 10.25%. This would prevent LA County and other organizations from imposing any other taxes. While the city would receive an estimated $4.5 million per year if the measure passes, the city council acknowledged the lack of definitive plan for how that money would be spent

“Where that money is going to be spent? I know our city council is very deeply concerned about that money and how it will be spent and will want to include the community on that.” city council member Becky Shelvin said. “No one wants to see increased taxes. This is a question as to who’s going to have control over that .75 gap? It will be filled by someone. And we’re saying we’d rather it be us that we have control over that money,” Shelvin said.

Mayor Pro Tem Larry Splicer openly expressed his support forthe measure.

“I just voted by mail. I voted for the measure, because Iprefer to give it to the city than to some other organization,” Splicer said. “Themoney that the city receives, it can go out and do some other things that weneed to fix in the community.”

Voters will be able to vote on the measure on during the specialelection on Nov 5.

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