Earmarking of Refuse Tax for 911 Center Defeated

A controversial plan to use a refuse tax increase to partially finance a $27-million 911 emergency command center in Long Beach was scrapped Tuesday by the City Council.

On a unanimous vote, the council ordered City Manager James C. Hankla to come up with a new plan. Hankla was told to explore finding $1.5 million to $2 million through budget cuts, or coming up with a new bond proposal to pay for the center. A bond measure last November fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority needed for passage.

More than 400 angry residents showed up at a tax hearing last week to protest the proposed tax.

In taking the action, council members were in broad agreement that a replacement to the city’s outdated emergency communications system had to be found. “We have a 911 system that is hanging on by something less than its fingernails,” said City Councilman Les Robbins.