San Diego council to offer rival ballot proposal

By Ray Huard, Staff Writer
Copyright 2001 San Diego Union-Tribune
Article date: November 20, 2001
 

A March ballot proposal to make it harder to raise or impose taxes will be challenged by a rival measure from the San Diego City Council aimed at killing it.

"We're clearly playing defense with something that could be very damaging for the city," said Councilman Scott Peters yesterday.

The Taxpayers Protection Act backed by hotelier Doug Manchester would require two-thirds voter approval before the city could raise existing general taxes, such as the tax on hotel room bills, or impose a new tax. Ordinarily, the Manchester measure would require approval by a simple majority of those voting in the March election.

But the council, by an 8-1 vote yesterday, agreed to put a rival measure on the March ballot. It would require two-thirds voter approval for any ballot measure seeking to establish a two-thirds standard on other actions.

Councilman Brian Maienschein voted against the rival measure, saying there are simpler ways to contest the Manchester-backed measure.

City Manager Michael Uberuaga and several council members said the Taxpayers Protection Act could be devastating.

Not only would it make it difficult to raise or impose city taxes to keep pace with the need for services, said Peters and Uberuaga, but they said it also could lower the city's credit rating and make it more expensive to borrow money for major construction projects such as sewer line replacement.

City Attorney Casey Gwinn conceded that the strategy of the rival ballot measure is confusing.

Although the goal is to kill the Manchester measure, Gwinn said both the Taxpayers Protection Act and the City Council measure could become law if more than half of those voting approve the rival measure while more than two-thirds approve the Manchester proposal.

In that case, it would take two-thirds of the voters to approve future increases in the hotel tax and other general taxes. But it also would take a two-thirds majority to impose a two-thirds threshold on any future elections.

Ray Huard: (619) 542-4597; ray.huard@uniontrib.com
 

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