Alcala, Abigail
From: SaraCatalan <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, May30, 20248:33PM
To: eComment
Subject: SantaAnaproposedtaxincrease
Attachments: SantaAnaSalesTaxCigLetter.pdf
Attention: ThisemailoriginatedfromoutsideofCityofSantaAna. Usecautionwhenopeningattachmentsorlinks.
Attachedpleasefindourletterontheproposedtaxincrease.
Sincerely,
Sara
SaraCatalán
OrangeCountyTaxpayersAssociation
PO Box5881
Orange, CA 92863
Fightingto maketaxesfair, understandable, cost-effective, andgoodfor theeconomy! 1 MayorAmezcua
CityCouncilmembers
SantaAnaCityHall
20CivicCenterPlaza
SantaAna,CA92701
Re:Item41.DiscussandConsiderProvidingDirectiontotheCityManager,CityClerk,andCity AttorneytoPrepareNecessaryDocumentstoProposeaCigaretteLitterAbatementTax IwritetoyoutodayonbehalfofOCTax, toopposenewtaxincreasesonbusinessesintheCityof SantaAna.SmallbusinessownersmakeuptheheartofthebusinesscommunityinSantaAnaand manyofthoseareminority-ownedbusinesses.
Smallbusinessownersarestrugglingthroughatougheconomy,seeingalltheircostsrisingyear overyear. TheaveragecommercialenergycostsinCaliforniaare84%higherthanthenational average,laborcostsareup4.5%thisyear,ontopofa4. 7% increaselastyear,andthecostsfor materials/suppliesareincreasingagainforthethirdstraightyear.
Everyoneisfeelingthepinchofinflationonthefamilybudgetaswellasonthebusinessbudget.
Whileweunderstandtheneedforincreasedrevenue,raisingtaxesonsmallbusinessesand increasingtheircomplianceburdenisnotthesolution.Inarecentstudyresearchersfoundthat SantaAnaisoneofthemostexpensiveplacestoliveintheUnitedStates;withanoverallcostof livingindexof165/ 100,SantaAnais65%higherthanthenationalaverage.
TheCityofSanFranciscohasacigarettetaxsimilartothisproposalonthebookssince2009.Every cigaretteretailerintheCityandCountyofSanFranciscoisresponsibleforpayingtheCigarette LitterAbatementFeeof$1.50perpackofcigarettessold.Thesesmallbusinessesmustthenfile quarterlyreportswiththecitytreasurer, paythetax,payalatefeeiftheyaredelayed,andpayan additionaladministrativefee.Thesetaxesandfeesareinadditiontocurrentcompliance requirementsandtothealready-increasingcostsofrunningasmallbusiness.
SantaAnaisalreadytiedforthehighestsalestaxeratesinthecounty.Thecostofimplementing thisnewtaxwouldfaroutweightheeconomicbenefitsforthecity. Insteadofincreasingthistax,we wouldrespectfullyrequestthatthecityencouragebusinessgrowthbycontinuingtostreamlinethe businessapplicationcostsforandapplicationprocessesforsmallbusinesses.
Thankyouforyourconsideration.
Sincerely,
SaraCatalán
Alcala, Abigail
From: GeorgeBoutros <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June3, 20246:46PM
To: Hall, Jennifer
Cc:! CityClerk
Subject: OCBC: LetterofOpposition - CigaretteLitterAbatementTax Attachments: SantaAna_AbatementTax_Oppose.pdf
Attention: ThisemailoriginatedfromoutsideofCityofSantaAna. Usecautionwhenopeningattachmentsorlinks.
DearCityClerkJ. Hall:
ThisisGeorgeBoutros, GovernmentAffairsManagerwithOrangeCountyBusinessCouncil. I hopethisemailfindsyou well.
I amcontactingyouthisevening, aheadof tomorrow’scitycouncilmeeting, tosubmitourletterof oppositionagainstthe city’sconsiderationof implementingacigarettelitterabatementtax. Pleaseletmeknowif theOfficeof theCityClerkis theappropriatechanneltosubmitourletterthrough. If not, I wouldbehappytosendthislettertotheappropriatecity staff. I haveattachedthelettertothisemail. Thankyou.
Regards,
GEORGEBOUTROS
GovernmentAffairsManager
OrangeCountyBusinessCouncil
[email protected]
CellPhone: (
2 ParkPlaza, Suite100, Irvine, CA92614
ocbc.org | locationoc.com
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