March 10--Los Angeles County analysts laid out five options Wednesday for raising money to pay for ongoing efforts to combat homelessness -- most of them involving voter-approved tax increases.
The city and county adopted parallel plans last month to address the growing homelessness problem. The number of people sleeping on the streets, in cars and in makeshift encampments increased 12% countywide from 2013 to 2015, according to Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority surveys.
The county set aside about $150 million to pay for its plan over the next two years, and the city is devoting about $30 million this year to homelessness programs. But officials on both sides have acknowledged that more and longer-term funding is needed to make a serious dent in the problem.
The options laid out in the county report include a parcel tax; redirection of some money from Measure B, a countywide tax for trauma care; a new tax on medical -- and perhaps in the future, recreational -- marijuana; an increase in the countywide sales and use tax; and a new "millionaire's tax" on personal income over $1 million, like the one that currently funds mental health services around the state.
The last option would require action by the state to allow counties to seek such a tax.
All the tax options would require approval by two-thirds of voters if funds were to be specifically dedicated to homelessness. But the marijuana and sales taxes could be passed by a simple majority if the tax were not specifically tied to homelessness. Voters could take an advisory vote in that case, asking that the funds be put toward homeless initiatives.
The county chief executive office, which produced the report, noted that county health departments said redirecting Measure B money would cause budget deficits for them, so that option seemed unlikely to be pursued.
County staff will begin polling to gauge support for the other options, to potentially be placed on November's ballot.
City leaders have also explored the possibility of going to voters for a tax increase, but a countywide initiative would potentially supersede that. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said he anticipated that part of the proceeds of any countywide measure would be allocated to cities.
"There are things the county can and should do that cities can't do," he said.
Ridley-Thomas said he did not see any way to raise the money needed without a tax measure.
"There's no way to do what needs to be done without going to the ballot," he said.
Twitter: @sewella
