Tag Archives: Doug Willmore

Tax Increase Could Be Potential Blank Check – Letter to the El Segundo Herald by Floyd Carr

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Mike

Tax Increase Could Be Potential Blank Check

As a lifelong resident and former mayor of El Segundo, I find the recent City Council decision to pursue a ballot measure to increase taxes on “refineries” extremely troubling, for a number of reasons.

First, the process was utterly lacking in transparency, in that the City Manager’s analysis and subsequent last-minute agendizing of the proposal was apparently initiated without all the Councilmembers’ knowledge.

Second, Chevron the sole target of the proposed tax increase was not informed until after the fact and had no opportunity to provide input or data that might have enhanced the City Manager’s understanding and assessment of the substantial combined revenues the company already provides the city.

Third, no input was solicited from … Continue reading →

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More Time Needed to Deliberate Tax – Letter to the El Segundo Herald by Marsha Hansen

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Mike

More Time Needed to Deliberate Tax

The greater El Segundo community is proud of the collaborative relationship between City government and the private sector. This partnership has served our community well, especially during challenging economic times.

We were surprised and disappointed when we learned, with only a few days’ notice, of the Council’s intention to propose a significant tax increase targeted at a single segment of the business community without having first sought input from the Chamber of Commerce and others. This is a sharp departure from the transparent, collegial process that has always served the people of El Segundo for years.

A matter as important as the single largest tax increase in the City’s history deserves thoughtful deliberation, with sufficient time invested not only in research and analysis, but in meaningful discussion with the community. The scant 18 business days from the time this proposal was first aired in public until the deadline to decide whether or not to place the tax increase before voters falls short of the time necessary to exercise responsible diligence. … Continue reading →

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Special Contract – Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement Between El Segundo and Chevron

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Mike

PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES (“PILOT”) AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE CITY OF EL SEGUNDO AND
CHEVRON CORPORATION

    This AGREEMENT is entered into this ____ day of January, 2012, by and between the CITY OF EL SEGUNDO, a municipal corporation and general law city (“CITY”) and the Chevron Corporation, a California corporation (“CHEVRON”).

1. RECITALS. The Parties enter into this Agreement with reference to the following facts and objectives:

A. The CITY’s general fund expenditures exceeded the CITY’s incoming general fund revenues by approximately $6.9 million in fiscal year 2008/2009. The CITY’s fiscal condition has been negatively impacted by the unprecedented challenges in the worldwide and national financial markets and the chronic economic recession in the national, state, regional and local economies.

B. The on-going economic recession has significantly decreased the CITY’s revenue sources and negatively impacted expenses requiring the CITY to institute various austerity measures including expenditure curtailments for equipment and capital projects and deferred maintenance of CITY infrastructure.

C. The CITY’s general fund expenditures were projected to exceed the CITY’s incoming general fund revenues by approximately $10.4 million for fiscal year 2009/2010 requiring that the CITY utilize various one-time monies to balance its budget for fiscal year 2011/2012 and beyond.

D. The CITY general fund expenditures were projected to exceed the CITY’s incoming general fund revenues by approximately $ 9.2 million for fiscal year 2010/2011 causing the City to continue to implement cost savings measures. .

E. The CITY has decreased its unreserved/undesignated General Fund balance by 25% and has decreased its Equipment Replacement Fund balance by 10% since fiscal year 2008/2009.

F. The region, state, and nation are undergoing one of the worst economic downturns in the history of our Nation and financial forecasts are that it may worse, or at best, take several more years before the economy begins to strengthen.

G. The negative impacts of the current economic downturn are expect to take several more years before the economy begins to strengthen enough for local government agencies to see any significant restoration of revenues.

H. The California Constitution prohibits the CITY from enacting new taxes without voter approval which prevents the CITY from generating new revenues to offset

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losses.

I. CITY’s city manager is recommending that CITY’s City Council consider placing a ballot measure on the April 2012 election that would increase the amount of taxes paid by oil production companies including, without limitation, CHEVRON to CITY (“TAX”). If approved, the TAX would generate an anticipated $_____ in revenue for the CITY. Such revenue would help replenish the CITY’s capital improvement project (“CIP”) budget to help ensure the CITY’s infrastructure does not fall into disrepair. … Continue reading →

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Proposed Tax Increase On Chevron – Letter to the El Segundo Herald by Ron Murray

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Mike

The proposed tax increase is flawed. The tax proposed is on land ownership, not on the business. The County taxes property— land and improvements of which El Segundo receives a “slice”. Taxes should be uniform and consistent; so the tax should be applied to all unimproved land in the city—parking lots, unimproved commercial zoned property, empty storage lots, etc., not just on Chevron.

Most business in El Segundo pay a business tax based on commercial building footage plus number of employees/contractors. This formula is good as it is tied to services provided by the city to the business. … Continue reading →

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Are Chevron’s Taxes Too High? – Letter to the El Segundo Herald by Michael D. Robbins

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Mike

The City Manager’s Chevron Shakedown must stop, including efforts to extort large “gifts” of money under threat of a $10 million annual tax hike. The City will suffer long-term damage to its reputation as a good city to locate a business.

Doug Willmore used false premises to construct a deceptive one-sided analysis for the Chevron property, rather than a true cost-versus-benefits analysis. It is unfair and dishonest to compare tax revenues generated per acre by the Chevron refinery with that of other local businesses. Land use in other South Bay cities is mostly residential and not three-quarters commercial/industrial as in El Segundo.

In his one-sided analysis, Willmore ignored the cost for the City to provide and maintain infrastructure and services for residents and businesses that would otherwise exist on the massive Chevron refinery property. … Continue reading →

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