October 1, 2008
Duarte City Council Approves Resolution to Oppose Measure R – MTA’s Proposed Half Percent Sales Tax Increase
The Duarte City Council has approved a resolution to oppose Measure R, a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority one-half percent sales tax increase slated for the Nov. 4, 2008 ballot. If passed by voters, the countywide sales tax increase is expected to generate approximately $40 billion over the next 30 years in revenue for transportation projects, transit operations and maintenance.

The resolution passed by unanimously by the Duarte City Council states:

• Measure R was not crafted with countywide consensus nor does it provide an acceptable standard of long-term equity for all regions of Los Angeles County which will be paying this new sales tax.
• Measure R proponents rejected provisions that would guarantee a fair distribution of transportation funds throughout the entire region.

The resolution requests that the “San Gabriel Valley Council of Government (COG) and the Los Angeles Division of the League of California Cities initiate a dialogue with a goal of developing strategies for securing necessary transportation infrastructure improvements and equitable funding for such improvements throughout Los Angeles.”
Many other San Gabriel Valley cities and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments have either passed or are considering similar resolutions to oppose Measure R, including the cities of Monrovia, La Verne, West Covina, and San Dimas.

For more information, call Duarte Deputy City Manager Karen Herrera at Duarte City Hall, (626) 357-7931, ext. 221.