Huntington Park : Council Certifies Results of Failed Utility Tax Election

The Huntington Park City Council on Tuesday certified the results of last week’s special election on a proposed 7% utility tax, which was defeated.

Nine hundred people--about 64%--voted against the proposed tax on electricity, natural gas, water and telephone usage, City Clerk Marilyn Boyette said Wednesday. The tax was favored by 507 of those voting. A simple majority was required for passage.

Money from the utility tax was to have been used for employee raises and to hire 15 more police officers.

The City Council approved a $27.8-million austerity budget during the summer that includes no raises for the city’s 200 employees. The council also cut spending by more than $150,000 in various areas.

City officials are reviewing the budget for additional spending cuts to free money for employee raises, among other things, Chief Administrative Officer Donald L. Jeffers said.

The three associations that represent city employees agreed to work at last year’s pay levels pending the outcome of the election. Negotiations with those associations are scheduled for next month.