Encinitas reports first-quarter sales tax decline
The city's sales tax receipts from January through March decreased by $62,987, or 2.6 percent, from the same quarter in 2006, finance manager Darlene Hill said Tuesday.
The reduction in first-quarter sales tax receipts would not require reductions of programs or services, she said, adding that a $1 million "budget stabilization reserve" built into this year's budget could absorb the shortfall.
"We're trying to be conservative in our projections," Hill said, "and we're hoping the economy remains stable."
In a memo to the City Council, Hill blames the sale of Mossy Chevrolet and an overall decline in automobile sales for contributing to the reduction. The city bought the dealership last summer for a public works facility, despite warnings from taxpayer watchdogs that the business was an important sales tax producer.
Hill provided the memo and an accompanying report to the North County Times.
The report also blames a sluggish housing market for reduced lumber and building material sales. The Home Depot store in Encinitas consistently ranks as one of the city's top 25 sales tax producers, according to The HdL Companies, the Diamond Bar firm that produces the quarterly reports.
"It would be unusual to see a home improvement store up this quarter," said Lloyd de Llamas, the company's president.
"The flatness we're seeing in Encinitas is not unusual," he said. "We're seeing it all over the state."
Sales taxes from electronics store are down 11.3 percent from the same quarter in 2006. Hill attributed that slump to the closure of Comp USA and Tweeter stores within the last year.
It sounds corny, but I try not to spend any money outside of Encinitas. I especially hate spending money in Carlsbad. For example, if I need a book I go to the Encinitas Barnes&Noble and not the Borders Books located in the parasitic mall, The Forum.
Hideous architecture awaits you at the Carlsbad Forum mall.
The Forum is mentioned in the NCT article as a boost to Carlsbad's sales tax receipts, while sales taxes are down in Encinitas. This is not a coincidence. It is now time for the city of Encinitas to look into attracting a modern multiplex movie theater. Currently, if you want to see a first run film in a theater with surround sound and stadium seating, you have to drive to Oceanside or San Marcos. If the city of Encinitas does not swiftly build a multiplex movie theater, Carlsbad will put one on the nearby El Camino Real area. Carlsbad will continue to bleed off our sales tax revenue.
By the way, sales taxes are way too high in California: Shoppers paid a sales tax of 7.75 cents on every dollar spent in those cities in that first-quarter period, and 1 cent of it is returned to city coffers. The state Board of Equalization allocates the rest of the money to other agencies.
If they want to stimulate spending the state should drop sales tax down to 5%.
Yeah, that will happen.
I guess you have decided to secretly censor some on this blog.
ReplyDeleteSpeaks volumes about your character.
Thank you Darlene Hill for being one of the smart and honest people at our City Hall. She's right about the revenue loss from Mossy Chevrolet being largely responsible for the decrease in sales tax over the last quarter. And brave enough say so.
ReplyDeleteWho can escape from Mossy's jingle when you turn of a radio or TV. What other car dealership business in Encinitas has a jingle you can remember? None for me.
On the brighter side, look how much room the public works has now for parking. What a trade. We spend 9 million dollars for land and lose 2% of our tax base (per year in perpetuity) in one swoop.
They say Mossy Nissan moves you. In Encinitas it's the other way around.
Re: first anonymous comment,
ReplyDeleteYes, I am screening out some comments "anonymous". Sorry about that "anonymous", but I've been looking at the IP addresses of the blog's regular visitors lately and you know what I discovered "anonymous"?
That the people who constantly accuse me of slander are the ones who constantly post the most aggressive slander over and over and they post as "anonymous".
Even more than that, many of these hypocrtical anonymous bloggers are posting opposing views from the same IP. So, either people with opposing viewpoints are sharing a computer or some of you are just trying to stir the pot.
Sorry "anonymous", but if you are going to post smack then at least have the courage to use your real name.
Stir the pot it is fun to see some bloggers reaction. jp its your blog censor as you must or see fit.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone thinks this blog is anything more than entertainment then they have a problem anyway.
for the blog to have community value AND provide entertainment there needs to be some filtering. yes, i am glad i dont have to do it. i am sure if you send jp your email address he will forward the censored blogs to you. it's not a question of secrecy but a question decency. this has always been a relatively civil blog that you do not have to set a filter on so your kids dont access it. sorry, but i stand firmly with the blog master on this point.
ReplyDeleteSo Gil, if I understand you correctly, it's OK for the blogmaster to "trash"the artist of the Cardiff scultpture, implyig all sorts of names, but none of us are allowed to comment on it. I do post under my name, and I have posted under anonoymous. I am sure J. P. has figured that out if he is resorting to checking IP addresses. Other people in my house do use my computer, and they have my permission to do so.I have no idea what they say. Since they area all adults, I don't screen it. I agree that this blog has been incredibly useful to get the word out about certain nepharious ploys of the City, however, J.P. used his own blog to defame someone he possibly did not even know. The sculpture is irrelvant at this point. I believe that what is in question, is " does J.P. want this blog to continue to help us fight City hall and clan things up, or does he want to make it his own personal world of what gets posted.?" It is his right to do either. I do hope he chooses to continue and help us fight for what we deserve in this City. The Mossey property was a huge mistake, and the man that made it happen, Phil Cotton, got promoted to City Manager. What a City. Thank you J.P for hopefully allowing this post to show up on your blog
ReplyDeleteI too hope that J.P. continues to help in the fight against the city. Phil Cotton was chosen to maintain the status quo. That's why no outsider was considered or interviewed. He has now been rewarded with a raise for his loyalty.
ReplyDeleteHas everyone looked at the newsletter sent out last week by the city with the recreational guide? I believe this violates the Fair Political Practices Act. The newletter is pure puffery, and Mayor James Bond is prominently featured. This is not allowed unless the piece is purely factual and simply to inform the citizens. The newsletter seems designed to promote the reelection of Bond and Deputy Mayor Jerome Stocks.
The section on the Hall property park doesn't even mention the point in the process that the park is presently caught by citizen protest. It also contains untruths, such as saying it is a Community Park, when the EIR officially calls it a Special Use Park. So much for factual information. What a city!
Is that old coote going to run again?
ReplyDeleteI'm telling you. Dr. Lorri needs to change her name to Betty Boop and she would easy beat James Bond.
I thought dr. lorri threw a hissy fit and pulled herself off this blog. Damnit, why is she back? Self righteous betty boop...
ReplyDeletePhil Cotton was approached by Mossy as they were wanting to vacate site.
ReplyDeleteYes, I threw a hissy fit and now I am back.Very cathartic, I might add. J.P. was kind enough to let me post. He could have censored my comments, so thanks J.P. Hey, I'm Irish what do you exepct? Just goes to show you what a crazy person I am. Sorry, I don't like the name Betty Boob. But, you nevver know when I might run for City Council, under my REAL name, which does have a last name to Dr. Lorri. In case you don't want to vote for me, my last name is Greene. So you could have a Greene candidate. Sorry Bob, it's the best I can do this wearly in the A.M.
ReplyDeleteWow! The city's new newsletter Encinitas Now! Check it out! Zero-based budgeting gives residents something to shout about! Now that's an interesting Encinitas fact! Hall property park is right here! Happy 21st anniversary of incorporation, Encinitas! Now that's an interesting Encinitas fact!
ReplyDeleteGreene will work.... I just doesn't have the same hollywood sales appeal as James Bond. You see, a well know action figures name can get even old coggers elected.
ReplyDeletecould you change your name to
Wonder Woman or how about Bet Middler?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete