City of Lomita
Information about Lomita’s Measure L

According to recent surveys, 72% of residents believe that the City of Lomita is on the right track and 82% of residents say it is an excellent or good place to live. While these numbers are great, we welcome your input (tinyurl.com/lomitasurvey) on how we can continue to improve — even in the face of the significant challenges in the coming years.

As a family-friendly City with a small-town feel, Lomita strives to maintain a high quality of life for our residents. Faced with projected funding shortfalls in coming years of approximately $1.2 Million annually, the Lomita City Council unanimously voted to place a 3⁄4 cent Local General Municipal Sales Tax measure on the November 3, 2020, ballot. Measure L would help the City address this shortfall and the repercussions to City services that could result. It would provide local funds that could be used to meet the needs of our residents, and would be controlled exclusively by the City instead of the County or State.

Facing Budget Challenges Head-On
Our city faces serious health and economic challenges including directly on the City’s budget, and these challenges have only been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. While Lomita takes pride in being fiscally responsible, the City estimates a significant budget shortfall over the next 5 years as we operate without the local revenue sources of many of our surrounding communities. Budget projections indicate that without a sustainable source of local revenue, within the next five years the City will see a shortfall of more than $1.2 million annually, which could have significant effects on the City’s ability to meet the needs of our residents as it currently does.

Measure L: Local Funding Measure
Seeking to provide stable, local funding to meet these needs, the Lomita City Council placed Measure L on the November 2020 ballot. It is estimated that Measure L would generate approximately $1.3 million a year. If approved by the voters, this locally-controlled funding could be directed by the City Council to:

• Improve drinking water
• Maintain the City’s public safety and emergency response services
• Help keep parks and public areas safe and clean
• Repair streets and potholes
• Support small local businesses
• Address homelessness

Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility

• All funds from the measure would stay in Lomita to be used for local priorities and needs, and be subject to independent financial audits
• Most purchases of groceries and prescription medicines in Lomita would be exempt

Still have questions?  Your City staff is always available to answer any questions you might have.  Feel free to reach out to us at (310) 325-7110.