Los Angeles County voters were favoring Measure A, a tax for homeless services, and Measure E, a tax to benefit the county fire department in smaller cities, according to election returns Tuesday night.
But Measure G, the county reform measure that expands the Board of Supervisors and creates more transparency and ethical reforms, was losing by about 1 percentage point. The measure had 49.6% yes votes, and 50.4% no votes.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, co-author of the measure, said in a statement released Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. that she had not given up on the measure getting the required majority for passage.
“While we’re feeling hopeful, we know there are still more votes to count, especially from those who voted in the final days and hours of this election,” Horvath said. “As we wait for every last vote to be counted, we remain optimistic about the path forward. Measure G marks a new era for a better and brighter L.A. County for all of us.”
Results released by 10:30 p.m. Tuesday were composed of vote-by-mail ballots and ballots cast at vote centers both before and on Election Day. A majority of votes have been counted but vote-counting will continue into the morning hours.
Measure A, a one-half percent (0.50%) sales tax for homeless services appeared to be leading by nearly 10 percentage points — a comfortable margin. Yes votes led with 55%, with the no votes getting 45%.
“We’re pleased with the initial results that show strong support for Measure A and reinforce voters’ shared commitment to addressing affordable housing and homelessness across Los Angeles County,” said Scott Mann, spokesperson for Yes on Measure A.
“Each vote brings us one step closer to being able to bring bold new solutions to tackling homelessness and improving the lives of all who call Los Angeles County home,” Mann added.
Measure E also was ahead by a smaller margin, only 4 percentage points. The yes votes amounted to 52.1%, while no votes equaled 47.9%.
LIVE ELECTION RESULTS: See a chart of the latest vote counts
The three measures on the ballot are attempts to fix three different problems in Los Angeles County. All require a simple majority for approval.
One measure funds homeless services and another helps fund the county fire department. The third measure would change the way county government works by adding four more county supervisors to their five-person board and by creating a position for an elected county executive.
Measure A: The Affordable Housing, Homelessness Solutions and Prevention Now Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance would institute a one-half percent (0.50%) sales tax in L.A. County for homeless services that would double the current sales tax.
It would institute a one-half percent sales tax and make it permanent. It would also repeal Measure H, the one-quarter percent (0.25%) sales tax in L.A. County that funds programs to reduce and prevent homelessness. Measure H was passed by 69.3% of county voters in 2017 and it expires in 2027.
Measure A would raise about $1.1 billion in the first year, according to a fiscal analysis by Oscar Valdez, the county auditor-controller. The revenue would fund more shelters, affordable housing and addiction treatment for the unhoused in L.A. County, supporters said. Money raised by Measure A would breakdown as follows:
• 61.25% to L.A. County for homeless services
• 35.75% to the L.A. County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA) for affordable housing and preventing homelessness.
• 3% to the L.A. County Development Authority for Local Housing Production
Measure E: The Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County Emergency Response and Infrastructure Ordinance would raise the tax on residential and commercial properties to bolster fire and paramedic responses in L.A. County.
Measure E is only before voters who live in unincorporated county communities such as Hacienda Heights, East Los Angeles and Topanga, and 60 cities that contract with the L.A. County Fire Department and are part of the county’s Consolidated Fire Protection District. Residents who live in bigger cities such as L.A., Long Beach, Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank, and some smaller ones, are not affected.
Measure E would put a tax of 6 cents per square foot on structural improvements, not including parking. The measure will generate about $152 million annually. Measure E only needs a simple majority to pass.
“It would be used to upgrade equipment such as replacing old fire engines. Some are 27 years old. As well as help close the staffing gap and modernize the 911 system,” said Douglas Herman, spokesperson for the Yes on Measure E campaign.
Opponents say the county Board of Supervisors, which recently adopted a $49 billion budget, should upgrade the fire department using its existing budgetary funds.
Measure G: The County Charter Amendment, Los Angeles County Government Structure, Ethics and Accountability Charter Amendment would make several changes to the structure of county government, including adding four more supervisors to the board and electing a county executive.
Here’s a breakdown of Measure G’s major points:
• Raises the number of county supervisors from five to nine.
• The county CEO, now appointed by the board, would be elected by voters.
• Creates other positions to facilitate budgeting and ethics reform, including an ethics compliance officer, a director of budget and management, and a county legislative analyst. Costs and salaries for these positions are not specified in Measure G.
• Department heads would present each of their budgets for public review, in contrast to a review of the entire budget which is how it is done currently. The county’s budget is about $49 billion. The public would be given five days notice of any proposed board motion.
• Any former politician would be banned from lobbying the county for the first two years after leaving office. It also authorizes suspension of county politicians who are criminally charged with a felony.
• Creates an Ethics Commission.
The measure was supported by Horvath and fellow Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis. It was opposed by the remaining supervisors, Holly Mitchell and Kathryn Barger.
Originally Published: November 5, 2024 at 8:51 PM PST
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