“This is about addressing the structural deficit, not about any one-time expense,” City Manager John Nachbar noted in the discussion for the city to ask residents to approve a proposed 1/4 cent sales tax. The Culver City Council meeting on March 17, 2025, looked at the tax as a way to shore up the approaching budget deficit by declaring a fiscal emergency and bringing in more revenue.
With the city’s budget discussions came the information that long term fiscal issues needed to be addressed. The council needed to decide how to ask voters for approval – several election options are possible – and find out if the additional tax is something that residents will support.
Only then would it be considered practical to call an election.
Nachbar estimated that the polling would cost between $25,000 and $30,000 dollars. Polls are “plus or minus five percent accurate…it’s been spot-on with every poll they’ve done.” He also highlighted that Culver City traditionally votes to raise taxes. No tax request has been defeated at the ballot box in the past two decades, and they typically win with a margin of more than 7o percent.
City Attorney Heather Baker declared that “It’s not official until the council adopts the resolution calling the election,” and that will be preceded by a poll asking residents how they would vote.
Council member Albert Vera, Jr. made a motion and was seconded by Mayor Dan O’Brien to request that staff “Draft a declaration of fiscal emergency,” and proceed to bring the tax before the voters. The vote was unanimous.
Judith Martin-Straw
