(December 19, 2002) -- The LB City Council has voted to support state legislative efforts to change Proposition 13 to let government bodies, including LB City Hall, increase property taxes with a 55% vote of the people instead of the now required 2/3 vote...provided it's for "public safety bonds."

During the Dec. 17 Council meeting, the Council voted to adopt a 2003 "State Legislative Agenda" (a list of items City Hall wants from Sacramento) that includes the following new verbiage in a section titled "Public Safety and Crime Prevention":

"Support legislation that reduces the percentage required for passage of public safety bonds to the same percentage as school bonds (55%)"

No member of the City Council publicly mentioned advocating the change to Prop 13 during the Council meeting. It was disclosed in writing in the Council agenda materials available to the public and provided to every Councilmember. The Council vote on adopting the 2003 State Legislative Agenda was 9-0.

Amending Prop 13 to create a 55% exception for public safety bonds would require a statewide vote of the people and majority passage. The CA legislature previously put a measure on the ballot to amend Prop 13 and allow property tax increases with 55% voter approval for education (school) bonds...and voters OK'd the change.

The Council's 2003 State Legislative Agenda is a statement of policy and could be changed at any time by subsequent voted action of the City Council.