(July 17, 2006) -- LBReport.com has received reports that someone is conducting telephone polling -- effectively trying to gather political intelligence -- on a ballot verbiage and arguments that would be useful in persuading LB voters to enact a parcel property tax, desired by LB City Hall.
LBReport.com doesn't know whether this particular polling is being done by City Hall...or by someone else.
Reports received by us indicate that a telephone pollster read the wording of a possible parcel tax measure (text which City Hall has not released publicly to date).
The pollster made references to library hours, library services, 143 more police officers, improved fire services, improvements in fire stations...and "better monitoring of sex offenders."
The pollster also indicated that the amount of the tax might be linked to the property's assessed valuation. This is the first time such a formula has been mentioned. Incoming Mayor Bob Foster has previously expressed concerns about the effects a property parcel tax might have on businesses...and also its potential regressive effect (if the tax were a flat amount imposed in the same way on properties in NLB and Naples).
The pollster asked what arguments for the tax sounded most believable and also tested responses to arguments that might be used against the measure.
Developing.