BEVERLY HILLS—The Beverly Hills City Council will consider taking a position on the Los Angeles County sales tax measure, titled “Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan” (Measure M) during the City Council Study Session on Tuesday, September 20.
According to a press release from the city of Beverly Hills, the City Council reviewed the initiative during the September 6 meeting; they requested that it come back for a full discussion, to all the community additional opportunity to comment. Residents are encouraged to provide input on the issue.
Measure M, which is expected to appear on the November 8 ballot, would increase the county sales tax by a half-cent and extend the existing Measure R half-cent sales tax beyond its 2039 expiration date to fund transportation projects.
The Measure R funding plan includes the Purple Line Extension from Wilshire/Western to Wilshire/La Cienega in 2023, to Century City in 2026 and to Westwood/VA in 2036.
Measure M’s expenditure plan includes advancing the completion of the Westside Purple Line to Westwood/VA in 2024. Measure M will include the Northern Extension of the Crenshaw/LAX line to West Hollywood starting in the fiscal year for 2041.
Two percent of total Measure M funding is for “active transportation” to be allocated competitively throughout the region and 17 percent for “local return,” which will be distributed to local jurisdictions based on population. The local return would increase to 20 percent in 2039. By comparison, Measure R local return is 15 percent. Cities like Culver City and West Hollywood are scheduled to consider taking a position on Measure M prior to September 20.
