LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Nov. 12 announced several initiatives expected to save up to $50 million that will be used to repair 200 miles of streets annually.
The plan calls for increasing revenue by an anticipated $10 million by changing how utilities and others are charged for repairs made after they cut into city streets. Up to $25 million could be raised by having private parking lots use credit and debit cards to cut down on scofflaws who aren't paying the 10% city tax. City officials also anticipate a $5 million increase by upgrading an asphalt plant to produce more if its own asphalt for repairs.
"We are going to be street smart to make sure we squeeze more miles out of every dollar we spend," Garcetti said.
The amount anticipated from the initiatives is small compared to what would have been raised with a half cents sales tax initially proposed for the November ballot, but pulled in June by Councilmen Joe Buscaino and Mitchell Englander. The proposed ballot measure would have generated $4.5 billion in new tax revenue to repair city streets and sidewalks.
It would cost $3.86 billion to repair 8,700 lane miles, or roughly 37% of the city's 28,800 lane miles of city streets, which are currently receiving a D or F grade, according to an audit released by City Controller Ron Galperin in August. If the ballot measure had been on the ballot — and had passed — it would have also provided funding for the city's streets.
Buscaino alluded to future ballot measures in comments saying that taxpayers are willing to approve bond measures when elected officials can demonstrate they are using taxpayer money prudently.
"The people want their government to work well, and they want their leaders to work together," Buscaino said in a statement. "They will reward good management and smart fiscal policies by approving revenue measures at the ballot box: the recent passage of the state water bond is proof of that."
Many of the initiatives proposed were suggested in Galperin's summer audit.
