(October 29, 2004) -- L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe -- who in August provided the swing Board vote to put a proposed half-cent sales tax increase on the November 2 ballot for a vote of the people but has consistently stopped short of supporting the tax increase itself -- told LBReport.com today that he will vote "no" on Measure A when he casts his ballot in the November 2 election.

LBReport.com asked Supervisor Knabe, who was attending the dedication of LB's newly upgraded Skylinks Golf Course, how he'll be voting on Measure A, which if passed by a 2/3 vote of the people on November 2 would raise L.A. County's sales tax to 8.75%, the highest in CA, for purposes it lists as public safety and homeland security related.

Supervisor Knabe told LBReport.com, "I'm going to vote "no" on Measure A" and amplified on his position:

The proposed sales tax increase became a Board of Supervisors matter after L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca tried to put a petition-initiated sales tax increase for public safety on the ballot but came up short on signatures. Sheriff Baca then approached the Board of Supervisors to put the measure on the ballot...which the Board did (4-1, Antonovich dissenting) after making some changes.

Supervisor Knabe, whose district includes LB, stressed at the time that his Board vote to put it on the ballot was to let the public decide, and was not his endorsement of the measure itself.

Measure A is supported by Sheriff Baca, LBPD Chief Anthony Batts, numerous law enforcement officials and area City Halls.

In January 2004, LB's City Council was the first to go on record supporting Sheriff Baca's petition initiated sales tax increase proposal. LB's Council resolution noted that if the voters countywide approve the measure, LB City Hall stands to receive $21 million a year.

Measure A is opposed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the LB Area Chamber of Commerce.