Calabasas council unanimously declares fiscal emergency, schedules May mail-ballot for 1% sales tax

Calabasas, Calif. — The Calabasas City Council on Feb. 5 unanimously declared a fiscal emergency and voted to place a proposed 1% transactions and use tax on a stand-alone all-mail special election the council called for May, saying the measure would preserve local control of sales-tax capacity and generate roughly $5.3 million a year for the city if approved.

City Manager Ken Demick told the council and public the city is facing a structural general-fund deficit and declining reserves, and said staff projects the one-cent tax could produce approximately $5,300,000 annually for local use. “If we do not act first, then the county or another agency could claim that capacity,” Demick said, urging the council to move quickly after Los Angeles County advanced a separate half-cent county measure.

Pam Lee, who outlined the procedural steps, said council action is limited to deciding whether to put the question before voters; adoption of the tax itself would be up to residents. Lee told the council the requested actions are to (1) declare a fiscal…