Fullerton : Council to Decide on Utility Tax Repeal

The City Council on Nov. 15 will decide whether to repeal the controversial 2% utility tax that has prompted heated debate throughout the community.

After hours of public testimony both for and against repealing the tax, the council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to make a decision on the issue at its next meeting regardless if two council members win reelection Tuesday.

“I think that this tax, in my eyes, has never been a fair tax,” said Councilman Chris Norby, who voted against the tax last year.

Councilman Peter Godfrey added, “There is no question in my mind that the majority of the people want the tax repealed.”

But members of the Financial Advisory Committee urged the council to postpone a decision on repealing the tax until after they present their budget-cutting recommendations in January.

Residents and business owners pleaded with the council to repeal the tax immediately. Others asked that it be kept until its scheduled expiration date on Sept. 30, 1995.

Councilwoman Jan M. Flory, who cast the lone dissenting vote against making a decision on the tax repeal, said a decision should wait until after the inauguration of the new council members. She and Councilman Conrad DeWitte face reelection after three weeks in office.

The winners may not be inaugurated until December, after the registrar of voters certifies election results.

The utility tax, which led to a recall of three members of the council, is expected to provide the city’s general fund with $6.5 million in revenue by Sept. 30, 1995. But, if council members vote to repeal the tax, it will expire in February and budget cuts will have to be made to make up for the loss in revenue.

Former Mayor A.B. (Buck) Catlin and council members Molly McClanahan and Don Bankhead were recently ousted from office because they voted to levy the utility tax.