Measure A Local Dollars
Small cities claim they are being shortchanged in the distribution of funds from Measure A, a half-cent sales tax generating about $1 billion annually.
The numbers indicate that:
- Santa Clarita contributes $21.8 million but receives only $476,000.
- Torrance generates $26 million but gets $559,000.
The fund is divided with Los Angeles receiving 57% ($55 million), based mostly on each city's Point-in-Time homeless count from the past two years, and 10% based on extremely low-income households.
Cities can use the funds for various purposes, including:
- Shelter
- Housing
- Prevention
Examples of how cities are using the funds include:
- Los Angeles is spending its allocation to keep 1,100 shelter beds open.
- Pasadena is using funds to keep people in rental housing as federal subsidies expire.
Small cities say they're getting shortchanged.
Author's summary: Small cities feel shortchanged by Measure A fund distribution.