Election 2022 Sales Tax Scam: The City of Torrance Has Enough Reserves

On March 21, 2022, I wrote to Torrance City Manager Aram Chaparyan regarding the state of the city's finances. I was aware that the city reserves had drastically reduced to $500,000, in large part because previous city councils had continued to spend money that the city simply did not have.

The city manager responded:

The city's current balance in general reserves is

$22.6 Million!

The city is no longer in financial arrears!

There is NO NEED for a sales tax increase. NONE!

Check out the link and the report on Page 24 whicht city manager Chaparyan cited:

FY 2021 – 22 MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW REPORT

Here's a closer look at the table above:

With the most realistic projections considered, the city will have a reserve of $36,277,155!

That's a considerable amount of money on hand for the city!

So, in other words, the city of Torrance does not need to raise the sales tax. The argument that Los Angeles County might want to raise the sales tax is a hollow scare tactic at best. Los Angeles Unified tried to raise the property tax rates four years ago, and that effort failed massively.

The Board of Supervisors cannot muster the political capital to force up sales tax rates in the first place, since so many Los Angeles County residents are struggling from paycheck to paycheck as it is.

There is no reason to raise up the sales tax. What it really amounts to is that a majority on the city council is too lazy, too incompetent, or just plain indifferent to the needs of the residents in the city, and would rather gouge taxpayers instead of offering creative solutions to increase revenue.

Say NO to any sales tax increase!

Tell Torrance City Council: NO SALES TAX INCREASE! (July 27, 2021 City Council Meeting Agenda Item)

Dear Torrance residents:

On Tuesday, July 27, 2021, the Torrance City Council will be discussing a proposed sales tax increase initiative for the city residents to vote on.

The city council knows that it will cost themselves politically to vote for a tax increase, so they are going to put a measure on next year's ballot for everyone to vote.

The truth is, that the city residents should not even have such an insulting measure pushed on them to begin with!

The city of Torrance can cut wasteful spending, privatize some of the services, freeze hiring in the city offices. The city should also do everything in its power to foster a strong, welcoming business climate, too, which will help restore much needed tax revenue.

The last thing that the city council should be proposing, let alone discussing, is a sales tax increase. In fact, the city should discuss lowering the city sales tax. Residents, consumers, businesses need a break!

The agenda item is #9D:

http://torrance.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=8&event_id=7368

9D.	City Manager and Finance – Submit for Voter Consideration a Local ¾ Cent Transactions and Use (Sales) Tax Ballot Measure on the June 7, 2022 Election. Expenditure: None.

Recommendation of the City Manager and Finance Director that City Council:

1)

Submit for voter consideration a Torrance Pandemic Recovery and Public Safety Protection Measure proposal to institute a local ¾ cent transactions and use new revenue dedicated exclusively for services and city operational enhancements benefitting Torrance residents and businesses; and

2)

Approve Request for Proposal (RFP) for ballot measure consulting services.

9D - STAFF REPORT

Contact the Torrance City Council, and tell them to REJECT ANY SALES TAX INCREASE!

Here are some talking points that you can share:

• The city residents and businesses are just starting to recover from the pandemic and lockdown overreach. The last thing that we need is a tax increase.
• The city needs to find other ways to generate revenue, like cutting wasteful spending or privatizing certain city services, like garbage collection.
• The city must consider a sales tax DECREASE, at least by 1%. Such a measure will increase business and sales in the city, and bring more jobs and property tax revenue.
• Torrance has had a reputation as a Balanced City. It's time to respect that balance and not try to balance the city's depleted budget with more taxes on residents.
• A sales tax increase will discourage purchase of high-cost goods in the city, like cars and appliances.
• Passing the decision onto the taxpayers is just skirting responsibility. The city council needs to reject this ballot proposal in its entirety.

The city council's contact information is provided below:

For City Council Public Comment:

CouncilMeetingPublicComment@TorranceCA.Gov

Torrance City Council Contacts

Pat Furey (pfurey@torranceca.gov);

George Chen (gchen@torranceca.gov);

Aurelio Mattucci (amattucci@torranceca.gov);

Sharon Kalani (skalani@torranceca.gov)

Mike Griffiths (mgriffiths@torranceca.gov);

Heidi Ashcraft (hashcraft@torranceca.gov);

Jack Walser (jwalser@torranceca.gov);

 

City Clerk Rebecca Poirier (rpoirier@torranceca.gov);

City Manager Aram Chaparyan (achaparyan@torranceca.gov);

City Attorney Patrick Sullivan (psullivan@torranceca.gov);

Chief of Police Jon Megeff (jmegeff@torranceca.gov)

Phone:   (310) 618-2801

Torrance Residents: Reject Trash Fee Increase!

Torrance residents!

Let me make this statement as clear as I can.

The city of Torrance wants to raise the garbage fees.

They are struggling to balance the city budget. They have put in place more fees and ticket programs, many of which are revenue positive, and very much so.

Why?

The pension liabilities, which are currently taking 23% of the annual budget.

While it is important to compensate our public safety officers, there is no reason to keep paying them over-abundant pensions and benefits.

If the city goes bankrupt, what's the point of trying to pay lavish anything to police, fire, and other city employees?

Cities exist for the citizenry, all of them. Not for labor unions, not for special interests, and not for the political ly connected power brokers

So, to every Torrance resident who is a trash rate payer.

VOTE  NO on Trash Fee Increases!!!

Make your voice heard on the document below.

Trash rate payers should have received this form below:

If not, contact city hall immediately. There is still time to make your concerns known.

Even with the fee increases. Enough with the rising rates. It's time for our elected officials to make all the tough decisions and start cutting the wasteful spending.