Gardena council approves 0.25% local transaction tax to recapture quarter‑cent
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Summary
The Gardena City Council voted 5‑0 on Feb. 10 to impose a 0.25% transaction/use tax to recapture a quarter‑cent in local sales tax revenue; staff said the measure is intended to keep that revenue local amid a competing Los Angeles County measure.
The Gardena City Council voted unanimously Feb. 10 to place a 0.25% local transaction/use tax into ordinance form, a step city leaders say will allow Gardena to recapture a quarter‑cent of sales tax revenue freed up after a county measure sunset.
Councilmember Francis made the motion to approve item 10g and the motion was seconded in the record as “Belov.” The clerk recorded the vote as 5‑0: Serta, Henderson, Tanaka, Francis and Love voting yes.
Why it matters: city staff said the quarter‑cent became available after a county measure related to homelessness (referenced in the meeting as Measure H) sunset. The city manager told the council the proposed 0.25% would bring Gardena’s total sales tax rate to roughly 10.5% if combined with other existing rates, noting a competing Los Angeles County half‑cent measure will appear on the June ballot and it is not yet determined how overlapping measures will be resolved.
What council members asked: Councilmember Francis asked whether the ordinance limits the number of charging stations permitted under a separate EV ordinance (a topic discussed earlier under the consent calendar). Staff explained the transaction/use tax is a separate revenue measure and that the EV permitting ordinance follows state law; the council discussed the county measure and the desire to retain revenue locally.
Vote and next steps: Council approved the ordinance language (item 10g) on a 5‑0 vote. The council did not adopt implementing provisions beyond the ordinance language at the Feb. 10 meeting; any administrative steps or ballot placement would follow established city procedures.
Attributions: Councilmember Francis initiated the motion; the city manager (unnamed in the transcript) explained fiscal effects and competing county measures. The record lists the motion and a recorded second as “Belov.”
Ending: The council’s action keeps the city positioned to recapture the quarter‑cent locally; officials noted the outcome will depend on the county ballot process and any overlapping measures later determined by voters or elections law.