Carson Briefs: City Council Adopts $104.9 Million Budget ‘On Time’ and Voters Asked to Continue Utility Tax

Carson City Council Adopts $104.9 Million Budget ‘On Time’ for Fiscal Year 2022-2023

The Carson City Council June 21, unanimously approved a structurally balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 for the second year in a row. The total General Fund budget of $104.9 million, balanced without the use of any one-time monies, is consistent with the mayor and city council priorities. The budget makes significant investments in critical infrastructure projects, economic development and innovation, while maintaining a historically strong and healthy reserve of $39.4 million (48% above the city council reserve policy requirement). Overall, the 2022-2023 budget represents a 13.5% increase over the current year budget that ends June 30, 2022. The increase demonstrates the continued growth of the city’s revenues and the strength of the City of Carson’s economy.

The Adopted Budget furthers an annual Capital Improvement Program or CIP, funding 159 projects and requiring $81.8 million. Capital projects range from supporting parks, public safety, roadways, street maintenance and technology. The city also develops a Five‐Year Capital Improvement Program, which is a guiding document outlining all infrastructure needs of the City. Total funding is not allocated in future years beyond the next fiscal year.  

Details: 310-952-1729.

Carson Voters Asked to Consider Continuing 2% Utility Users Tax

(With correction)

CARSON — The Carson City Council June 21, approved a resolution to place “Measure C” on the ballot for the November 8 General Election. Measure C will ask voters to consider continuing the 2% Utility Users Tax (UUT), until such time it is ended by Carson voters.

A UUT is a tax approved by local voters and assessed on various utilities to raise funds for that jurisdiction. In Carson, utility service providers (e.g., Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas) collect the tax from residents and businesses for electricity and natural gas, then remit the funds to the City. Senior citizens (ages 62 or older) and low-income households are exempt from the tax and commercial and industrial consumers pay the majority of the total.

The UUT revenue is approximately $8 million per year, which is about 10% of the City’s annual budget. A Citizen Oversight Committee regularly meets to make budget recommendations and to oversee the use of UUT funds.

Carson’s UUT tax was originally approved by the voters on March 3, 2009 to provide essential services for Carson residents, such as 911 emergency response, natural disaster and public health emergency preparedness, protect local drinking water, and repair streets and potholes. A recent community survey concluded approximately 68% of respondents are inclined to support maintaining these City services by continuing the City’s 2% UUT at the same exact rate.

As of January 2021, 158 cities in California have UUTs. Examples of surrounding cities’ UUT rates are:

• Los Angeles: 9% on communications; 10% on electricity and gas.
• Long Beach: 5% on telephone, electricity, gas and water.
• Torrance: 6.5% on telephone, prepaid wireless, electricity, cogeneration, cable and gas; 6% on water.
• Downey: 4.8% on Telecommunications; 5% on electricity and gas.

Details: Utility User’s Tax and exemptions; 310-952-1748. For questions regarding Measure C, contact, 310-952-1740 or email PIO@CarsonCA.gov