Balance Must Be Struck on Taxes : Cities must demonstrate need; voters must be willing to pay

Orange County has a deserved national reputation for anti-tax sentiment. Voters in Stanton and San Clemente this month did their bit to keep the reputation intact.

Despite claims by officials of the two cities that the extra revenues were needed, residents said no. There may be no immediate impact from the balloting, but if there are fewer police in Stanton and dirtier parks in San Clemente in years ahead, residents will have to reconsider their votes. As is the case with a small hole in a roof that gradually gets bigger, failure to maintain a city’s services erodes the quality of life bit by bit.

California municipalities have had a tough time since voters passed Proposition 13 in 1978. That limited the amount of property taxes imposed. Passage of the measure reflected understandable unhappiness with some excessive spending by government at the expense of taxpayers. Unfortunately, Proposition 13 imposed excessive restrictions on the ability of cities and counties to raise money.

Anti-tax forces won another victory last year with the passage of Proposition 218. That required voters to approve any taxes imposed by city governments after 1995. It included taxes cities had been imposing on utilities such as water and gas in an attempt to cope with the inability to raise property taxes.

The proposed taxes in Stanton, for police, and in San Clemente, for parks, were to counteract the effects of Proposition 218. Other Orange County cities are unlikely to ask for tax increases any time soon. But it is worth remembering that Orange County voters did approve a sales tax increase for county transportation improvements in 1990, after rejecting it twice previously. Passage came after voters spent too much time in cars stuck on overcrowded roads and freeways, costing time and money and increasing aggravation.

Voters have to realize that taxes pay for municipal services, from police to parks. Waiting until a crisis develops before passing a tax is unwise.

City officials have to demonstrate why they need the money and show exactly how it will be spent. Then they must keep their promises. Otherwise they will add more fuel to voter anger and help the county keep its reputation for being death on taxes.