Reduce Utility Users Tax
(Re: “Don’t expect Seal Beach to reduce utility tax,” blog.sunnews.org, Thursday, June 5.)
After paying this tax for 21 years, I completely disagree.
On the contrary I believe it’s time to give the taxpayers of Seal Beach a raise.
Operating a City with a budget that relies on an ancient “utility” tax is not an intelligent long-term strategy for balancing a budget.
IIRC this “utility” tax is originally based on a tax born of the Orange County Bankruptcy of 1994. Once government imposes a specialty tax, it is rarely rescinded as it provides a wonderful source of extra revenue once the original conditions of tax depression are restored to a balanced condition.
What would be interesting is to have the city create a budget without ANY utility tax.
It would force pension reform, and reduce raises and compensation to be more in keeping with the private sector.
My understanding from those close to the city budget is the UUT could realistically and easily be reduced to 8 percent. Eleven percent is excessive. Period.
Mark Dennison
Seal Beach
JFTB building dedicated to fallen hero
The 79th Sustainment Support Command, located on Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, will dedicate their headquarters building in memory of Sgt. Paul T. Nakamura on Saturday, June 21 at 10 a.m.
This ceremony formally establishes a major two star headquarters at a strategic base in Southern California in commemoration of the first Army Reserve casualty of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. Nakamura, an Army Reserve Soldier who was assigned to the 437th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance), March Air Reserve Base, Riverside California, was killed in action on June 19, 2003 in Al-Iskandariyah, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A Southern California native, Nakamura was a model Warrior-Citizen, recognized as a leader in his community. While attending to an injured soldier in the back of a tactical ground ambulance, his vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, killing him and injuring the driver and patient. Sgt. Nakamura was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Sgt. Nakamura was the first Army Reserve Soldier killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Approximately 300 guests are expected to attend the ceremony including the Nakamura family, regional military leaders, friends, community leaders and local dignitaries. The building will exhibit the history of the young soldier and permanently commemorate his service and sacrifice.
The Joint Forces Training Base is located at 11200 Lexington Drive, Los Alamitos, 90270.
Public Affairs Office
U.S. Army Reserve
79th Sustainment Support Command
4201 Saratoga Ave.
Los Alamitos
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