A majority of Hermosa Beach residents support a .75 cent sales tax increase, and lifting the city’s ban on retail cannabis sales, as well as imposing a local cannabis tax, according to a survey presented to the city council at its Tuesday, May 24 meeting.
The City of Hermosa Beach Priorities/Budget Survey also found a majority of residents have favorable opinions of the city council, the school district, the police, and business leaders.
The survey was conducted on line and by phone by FM3 Opinion Research and Strategy between March 22 and April 10. The survey of 356 residents was a sufficient number for a five percent margin of error, according FM3 partner Richard Bernard, who presented the survey at the council meeting.
The survey found that 26 percent of residents would definitely vote for a .75 cent sales tax increase (the maximum increase allowed by the state), which would generate $3 million annually for the city. Another 27 percent of respondents said they would “probably” vote for the tax. Four percent said they would “lean” to voting yes on the tax, bringing the “Total Yes” support to 57 percent.
The “definitely no” total was 27 percent, with another 10 percent responding “probably no” and three percent leaning toward no, bringing the “Total No” on the sales tax to 38 percent.
Respondent approval for the tax increased to 61 percent after respondents were “educated” on how the tax revenue would be spent, Bernard said.
The hypothetical ballot measure read to respondents listed financial stability, public safety, youth and senior programs and protecting the ocean and beach from pollution as potential uses for the sales tax revenue.
Following the sales tax question, respondents were asked how they would like the sales tax revenue spent.
“Preventing theft and property crimes” received the most support, with 85 perent. But the eight other options, all received support of 77 percent, or more, of respondents, These included protecting coastal waters, and beaches from pollution, keeping parks safe and clean, and addressing homelessness.
To Read The Rest Of This Article By Kevin Cody on Easy Reader News
Published: June 02, 2022
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