New future for local taxation?  November 14, 2011  Scattered
electoral successes last week by locally-initiated revenue
measures may be signaling a willingness by California voters to
tax themselves — if they hear the right justifications.
[SanFranciscoChronicle]  Public agencies in varying
jurisdictions across California, including counties, cities and
school districts, earned enthusiastic support for creating new
taxes, approving bonds or increasing or extending fees.  Most
likely to succeed were measures impacting local public safety,
fire and schools.  Michael Coleman of the League of California
Cities said he also thought trust between agencies and citizens
appears to be key to what may be an emerging trend.  “Despite
tough times, if a local government runs an open and fair and
honest budget process and maintains a level of trust and
integrity with the community… then these things will pass,”
Coleman said, referring to tax measures.  State voters approved
40 of 53 tax-increasing measures, Coleman said.