A majority of San Marinans who voted in the Mar. 7 election voted against Measure H, a quarter percent sales tax increase to fund various programs to help the county’s homeless population.
Measure H, which required a two-thirds majority to pass, was narrowly approved by Los Angeles County voters, according to preliminary numbers released by the Los Angeles County Registrar on Wednesday, Mar. 8.
Six hundred sixty-seven San Marino voters, or 55 percent, voted against the tax increase. Five hundred thirty-four San Marinans supported it.
Of San Marino’s 8,203 registered voters, 1,208 voters, or 14.55 percent, participated in the election.
San Marino’s participation rate was approximately three percent higher than the countywide participation rate, despite the fact that Measure H was the only item on the ballot for San Marino voters.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors placed the measure on the ballot for voter approval.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger, a resident of San Marino, supported the measure.
“My support for putting this proposal on the ballot was incumbent on providing a thoughtful, intelligent and cost-effective plan for both existing funding and the additional funding,” said Barger in a statement to The Tribune. “It must include the input of our cities and provider communities to target resources to areas with the greatest need and ensure accountability.”
Barger continued, “I support those efforts to address homelessness that have clear-cut objectives, benchmarks and anticipated outcomes to guarantee an efficient and equitable allocation of tax dollars. We will also have clear-cut objectives and expected outcomes for each program strategy.”
Results from all Mar. 7 races can be found at lavote.net. The County Registrar must certify the results of the election by Mar. 31. Official election results will be posted by or before Apr. 4.
