Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tax Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Manhattan Beach council opposes Los Angeles County Measure ER, cites concerns about general-fund use and ballot capacity
Summary
After a staff overview showing Measure ER would add a 0.5% county sales tax and could raise Manhattan Beach's combined sales tax toward 10.75%, the council voted 4-1 (with one abstention) to oppose the county measure, citing uncertainty over allocations to the county general fund and potential crowding out of local ballot authority.
The Manhattan Beach City Council voted on May 19 to formally oppose Los Angeles County Measure ER, a countywide ballot measure that would add a half-percent sales tax to county rates if approved by voters.
Finance Director Brett Howard told the council the county board placed Measure ER on the June ballot and that, "If passed by the voters of Los Angeles County, measure ER would impose a half percent increase to the county sales tax rate, bumping up from the current rate of 9.75% to 10.25%, and it would become effective 10/01/2026 for 5 years ending 10/01/2031. This half percent sales tax increase is estimated to generate $1,000,000,000 annually to the county." Howard also noted that, because Manhattan Beach already has a local add-on measure (MMB), the combined citywide sales tax rate would rise to about 10.75% if ER is adopted.
Council members questioned whether the county would place Measure ER revenues in the general fund and expressed concern that a general-fund allocation would not guarantee spending specifically for health and human services. Several members also warned that the county measure could limit Manhattan Beach's ability to place its own local sales tax measures on the ballot unless Assembly Bill 1768 (which would exempt the county measure from statewide caps) passes.
During deliberations, Council Member Schirilli moved that the council oppose Measure ER, and the motion passed 4-1 with Mayor Pro Tem Tarney recorded as abstaining. The council declined to take a position at this time on AB 1768, which staff said would only take effect if the county measure passes.
Supporters and opponents of county measures were not present in large numbers at the council meeting; public commenters who addressed the council raised questions about whether a municipal position would sway voters and expressed general reluctance to add more taxes.
The council asked staff to prepare correspondence stating the city's position for transmission to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; no further fiscal action was taken at the meeting.
