Sales Tax

Karen S. Kim BURBANK -- Sales-tax reports in Burbank show that around here, people sure do like to eat. Last year, revenue from Burbank's sales tax -- which is the largest source of the city's general fund revenue -- increased 7.2% from 1999's totals. "We feel very good about it," City Manager Bud Ovrom said. "It means that we have a very strong local economy, and we know it's going to get better because you have the whole Empire Center coming online."

Karen S. Kim BURBANK -- When it comes to local sales-tax revenue improvement, Burbank leads the pack. Burbank's second quarter receipts for sales from April through June 2001 soared 8.2% above its second-quarter receipts for 2000. "We knew we'd have a good quarter, but I think it was better than we expected," Burbank City Manager Bud Ovrom said. "I think the key to us is that we just have a very strong diversified economy. Because of that, we tend to weather whatever fluctuations we may face."

BURBANK — Los Angeles County shoppers will pay an extra half-cent on their purchases starting today, when the sales tax will jump to nearly 10% as part of an effort to fund regional public transportation developments, including new carpool lanes on a local stretch of the Golden State (5) Freeway. The Measure R sales tax, approved by more than two-thirds of voters in November, is expected to generate $40 billion over 30 years for a series of Metropolitan Transportation Authority rail, bus, highway and road projects throughout the county, but will also add a burden on citizens and businesses during the recession, officials said.

Karen S. Kim BURBANK -- For years, it's been apparent that people who come to Burbank, sure do like to eat. That is, except for last year, according to a city report. And city officials are pointing to Sept. 11 as cause for the drop in restaurant sales tax revenue in 2001. "There definitely was an impact with that tragedy, especially with higher-end restaurants," said Susan Bowers, executive director of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce. "But I'm very optimistic about it. Things are already getting back to normal."

Josh Kleinbaum Worried that the state is trying to dip into one of its last remaining untouched revenue sources, Burbank has joined forces with more than 30 other cities to sue the state of California for backing bonds with funds earmarked for local governments. "The state has periodically taken city money, and we don't feel it's their right to take [it]," City Atty. Dennis Barlow said Thursday. "We don't think it's the city taxpayers' responsibility to balance the state budget with city taxes."

CITY HALL — Despite predictions of another anemic holiday shopping season, city officials are hoping to pump up local spending with an ad campaign of their own. Organizers of Shop Burbank, a city-sponsored program of about 100 merchants, mailed holiday greeting cards to each household directing shoppers to www.shopburbank.org , a compilation of discounts on everything from restaurants to big-box chains, they said. Redevelopment dollars are also being poured into widespread advertisements and mailers to major employment hubs, said Robin Faulk, a program coordinator.

Jackson Bell The war in Iraq, an epidemic scare and the state budget crisis had little effect on the local economy during the first quarter of 2003, according to the city's economic profile. The report, a quarterly analysis of Burbank's economic health prepared by the Community Development Department, examined a variety of indicators, including unemployment rates, travel, real estate sales, and parking, occupancy and sales tax revenues. "Based on the figures, Burbank does seem to be faring pretty well compared to other cities," said Ross Young, an administrative assistant who prepared the report.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to eliminate the state’s sales tax on gasoline and replace it with a fixed excise tax will not affect funds for local road maintenance as city officials had initially feared, the state legislative analyst’s office said Wednesday. The governor’s plan would replace the sales tax on gas, taken as a percentage of a total purchase, and replace it with an increase in the state’s per-gallon gas excise tax, from 18 cents to 28.8 cents.

Paul Clinton CIVIC CENTER -- With the clock ticking, the City Council hurriedly approved a deal Tuesday that opens the door for a Riverside auto retailer to buy land for a dealership in Burbank. By a 4-1 vote, the City Council agreed to a 50-50 split with CAG Investments of future sales tax revenues generated by the dealership for 10 years or up to $9 million, whichever comes first. The dealership, which is planned for the Burbank Empire Center on Lockheed-Martin Corp.

While the recession dealt Burbank some economic blows, the 101-year-old city's financial health is stable - sales tax revenues are rising and new infrastructure projects are on the horizon, Burbank Mayor Dave Golonski said Wednesday during the annual State of the City address. The event - hosted by the Burbank Chamber of Commerce at the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel - as a very public send-off for outgoing City Manager Mike Flad, whose last day is Friday as he prepares to take the top post in South Gate.

In Assembly Bill 2540, Burbank Assemblyman Mike Gatto has proposed introducing sales taxes for specified services. The specified services tend to be consumed by individuals with higher incomes and include, among other things, yacht and boat repair, astrology, tarot and palm reading, limousine rental, nonmedical massage, watch repair, access to the facilities of a ski resort, and access to live theater productions. When you impose a sales tax, the seller is faced with a choice: “Do I lower my prices to incur most of the tax, or do I try to pass it off to consumer?

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to eliminate the state’s sales tax on gasoline and replace it with a fixed excise tax will not affect funds for local road maintenance as city officials had initially feared, the state legislative analyst’s office said Wednesday. The governor’s plan would replace the sales tax on gas, taken as a percentage of a total purchase, and replace it with an increase in the state’s per-gallon gas excise tax, from 18 cents to 28.8 cents.

CITY HALL — Despite predictions of another anemic holiday shopping season, city officials are hoping to pump up local spending with an ad campaign of their own. Organizers of Shop Burbank, a city-sponsored program of about 100 merchants, mailed holiday greeting cards to each household directing shoppers to www.shopburbank.org , a compilation of discounts on everything from restaurants to big-box chains, they said. Redevelopment dollars are also being poured into widespread advertisements and mailers to major employment hubs, said Robin Faulk, a program coordinator.

BURBANK — Los Angeles County shoppers will pay an extra half-cent on their purchases starting today, when the sales tax will jump to nearly 10% as part of an effort to fund regional public transportation developments, including new carpool lanes on a local stretch of the Golden State (5) Freeway. The Measure R sales tax, approved by more than two-thirds of voters in November, is expected to generate $40 billion over 30 years for a series of Metropolitan Transportation Authority rail, bus, highway and road projects throughout the county, but will also add a burden on citizens and businesses during the recession, officials said.

Burbank – The Burbank City Council on Tuesday postponed voting on a revised city budget forecast that accounts for a $1.97-million decrease in revenue. Mayor Dave Golonski decided at 9:58 p.m. that the council could not squeeze the issue into the meeting before the required ending time of 11 p.m. Golonski acknowledged that additional city staff was on hand to help the council with the item, but concluded that it deserved more time than one hour. Declining auto prices, retail closures and the overall slowdown in the economy has led to the reduction in revenue.

AIRPORT DISTRICT — Mayor Dave Golonski, citing Burbank’s robust sales tax growth and a slew of new projects to be unveiled in 2009, said Thursday that the city is in a relatively strong position. But with a continued slump in the economy and a dive in the state’s available water supply, Burbank still faces tremendous challenges. Golonski spoke to hundreds gathered at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel & Convention Center for the annual state of the city address.