  City of Hermosa Beach
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 City of Hermosa Beach --- City Election of 2001ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE "H" (REPEAL OF THE UUT)
Two years ago over 60% of Hermosa Beach voters decided to retain the UUT (Utility Users Tax). It was a vote to keep our city safe and maintain a quality of life that members of our community expect and deserve. Fact: Hermosa Beach supports its own police, firefighter and paramedic departments. Approximately 60% of the General Fund budget is spent on safety. Crime is at a record low. Emergency response time is under two minutes. To compete for well qualified employees, the city must offer wages and benefits that are comparable to those of private industry and surrounding communities. Fact: Hermosa Beach's sewer system is almost eighty years old and contaminated water from potential sewer spills is a danger to our residents and ocean. Many residential streets are badly in need of repair. A master plan for the repair and rehabilitation of our deteriorated streets and sewer lines is continuing to be implemented because of the UUT. Fact: Hermosa Beach is a residential city with limited industrial base and sales tax resources. Less than 1/5 of the total property and sales tax revenue is returned to Hermosa Beach. All UUT revenue is returned to Hermosa Beach . It costs the average citizen about $10 per month. Senior citizens are exempt from this tax. Hermosa Beach is a desirable community in which to live. The UUT constitutes 12% of the General Fund revenue and these funds have been used primarily for safety services and sewer and street repairs. Should the UUT be repealed, cuts will be made in police, firefighter and paramedic funding as well as monies for the repair and rehabilitation of streets and sewers. If we want to preserve our quality of life and property values, we need to preserve the Utility Users Tax.
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