Would you pay more for street light repairs?<\/p>\n
Guests: Kavish Harjai, transportation correspondent for LAist, and Miguel Sangalang, executive director and general manager for the Bureau of Street Lighting<\/p>\n
Los Angeles city property owners should have received a ballot for voting on whether to pay more for streetlight repairs<\/a> \u2014 an area of funding that has been frozen since the 1990s. An increased budget could mean faster repair times and more efficient maintenance. <\/p>\n But \u2014 why is voting on this issue set up this way? Why vote now now? And what will your vote mean? <\/p>\n Why the vote?<\/p>\n L.A. established the Bureau of Street Lighting in 1925 \u2014 when the city was much smaller. In partnership with property developers, the bureau helped build a patchwork of streetlights. <\/p>\n Keep up with LAist.<\/p>\n If you’re enjoying this article, you’ll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less. <\/p>\n In 1996, Proposition 218 required municipalities to seek voter approval for general taxes and fees, such as increasing streetlight funding. Since then, assessment funds, which account for 90% of the bureau’s revenue, have been frozen, leaving the bureau chronically underfunded, according to Miguel Sangalang, the executive director and general manager for the Bureau of Street Lighting.<\/p>\n The city’s Bureau of Street Lighting says that it takes one year on average to complete repairs due to budgetary constraints.<\/p>\n Last year, the bureau had a third party verify and assess the funding it needed to operate \u2014 an estimated $125 million. <\/p>\n This year, the L.A. City Council approved a putting an increase before voters<\/a> \u2014 in this case, property owners near streetlights. <\/p>\n What to know ahead of votingIf you received a ballot, you must return it by allots are coincidentally due on June 2. This is a separate ballot from the primary election<\/a>.Every property gets one vote, though each ballot is weighted based on how much a property owner is expected to pay.Approval of the new assessment would also institute a three-year audit, meaning a third party would account for how the Bureau of Street Lighting spends the money.<\/p>\n Can’t vote but want to participate?<\/p>\n Funding doesn’t need to come purely from assessments. <\/p>\n The L.A. City Council could also supplement the bureau’s budget, which it has done in the past, according to Sangalang.<\/p>\n City Council offices can assist with repairs in their districts through discretionary funds. The mayor also has the ability to fund such projects through an executive order.<\/p>\n Calling your local council member’s office and asking for more funds to go to local street light improvements could help expedite the repair completion process.<\/p>\n How to keep tabs on LA city government<\/p>\n The City Council meets at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Agendas are posted here<\/a>.<\/p>\n