Hermosa Beach survey shows residents would support sales tax increase, cannabis sales
by Kevin Cody
A majority of Hermosa Beach residents support a .75 cent sales tax increase, and lifting the city’s ban on retail cannabis products, as well as imposing a local cannabis tax, according to a survey presented to the city council at its Tuesday, May 24 meeting.
The City of Hermosa Beach Priorities/Budget Survey also found a majority of residents have favorable opinions of the city council, the school district, the police, and business leaders.
The survey was conducted on line and by phone by FM3 Opinion Research and Strategy between March 22 and April 10. The survey of 356 residents was a sufficient number for a five percent margin of error, according FM3 partner Richard Bernard, who presented the survey at the council meeting.
The survey found that 26 percent of residents would definitely vote for a .75 cent sales tax increase (the maximum increase allowed by the state), which would generate $3 million annually for the city. Another 27 percent of respondents said they would “probably” vote for the tax. Four percent said they would “lean” to voting yes on the tax, bringing the “Total Yes” support to 57 percent.
The “definitely no” total was 27 percent, with another 10 percent responding “probably no” and three percent leaning toward no, bringing the “Total No” on the sales tax to 38 percent.
Respondent approval for the tax increased to 61 percent after respondents were “educated” on how the tax revenue would be spent, Bernard said.
The hypothetical ballot measure read to respondents listed financial stability, public safety, youth and senior programs and protecting the ocean and beach from pollution as potential uses for the sales tax revenue.
Following the sales tax question, respondents were asked how they would like the sales tax revenue spent.
“Preventing theft and property crimes” received the most support, with 85 perent. But the eight other options, all received support of 77 percent, or more, of respondents, These included protecting coastal waters, and beaches from pollution, keeping parks safe and clean, and addressing homelessness.
Benard cautioned the council to avoid specifying in a salex tax ballot measure how the revenue would be spent. A “dedicated” tax measure requires 66 voter approval for passage. A general tax measure requires only 50 percent plus 1 vote, he explained.
Following the meeting, Bernard said, “I’d argue city should consider exploring a potential sales tax measure.” But he emphasized the council did not ask his opinion on putting a sales tax increase on the ballot.
He noted that over the past four years, his firm has conducted sales tax surveys for over a dozen Los Angeles County cities. All the cities advised to put a sales tax measure on the ballot were successful; cities he advised not to put one on the ballot, but did so anyway, were not successful, he said.
Locally, Bernard said, he worked with Torrance on the .5 cent sales tax measure it has put on the June 7 ballot.
The survey’s hypothetical ballot question stated the sales tax would not have a sunset clause, but would be ongoing “until ended by voters.”
Placing a sales tax measure on the November ballot would require support from four of the five council members.
Residents fdavor legalizing retail cannabis sales by a 10 percent margin, according to a recent resident survey. Source: FM3 Research
Legalizing retail cannabis sales in Hermosa was favored by a 10 percent margin. Though the survey question did not refer to a specific cannabis ballot measure, an initiative that would allow two retail cannabis outlets in Hermosa has qualified for the November ballot.
(Following the survey presentation, the council voted unanimously to oppose the November cannabis initiative).
Respondents who “strongly support” legalizing retail cannabis sales were 29 percent. Another 24 percent responded “somewhat support,” bringing “Total Support” to 53 percent.
The “strongly oppose” response was 31 percent and the “somewhat oppose” response was 12 percent, bringing the “Total Oppose” to 43 percent.
Bernard told the council the 10 percent margin favoring legalization still fell within the “margin of error.” (Following the meeting he explained that subtracting the 5 percent margin of error from 53 percent support number brought total support beneath the 50 percent plus 1 needed for passage).
Following the cannabis retail sales question, respondents were asked if they would support a local tax on cannabis sales of up to 10 percent. “Total Support” was 66 percent, “Total Oppose” was 26 percent
Among the five civic organizations the survey asked about, the police department received the highest favorable rating (83 percent), followed by local business leaders (70 percent), the school district (64 percent), the city council (59 percent) and the cannabis industry (41 percent).
In response to being asked if the city is ‘generally headed in the right direction,” 68 percent responded yes, 16 percent responded “on the wrong track,” and 16 percent responded “don’t know.” ER