Cathedral City Declares Fiscal Emergency

CATHEDRAL CITY- With a unanimous vote Wednesday night, Cathedral City Council Members declare fiscal emergency. The City has $10 million in reserves but says if things continue to be the way they are, the City will deplete the reserves and be $3 million in the red.

The Council also voted unanimously to put a1% sales tax increase on a special election June ballot. With Cathedral City being in a fiscal emergency, only a simple majority vote is needed rather than a two-thirds vote to pass. Cathedral City resident Ken Owens disagrees with the vote change saying, “Changing the amount of votes is unfair, we have lost businesses, we need more business in here rather than scaring them away.” The tax increase would not apply to big-ticket items like cars, boats and RV’s. The sales tax of those would be decided by the citythey are registered in.

Each of the council members blame the California State Legislature forpart of the City’s problems.During the discussion portionCathedral City Mayor Pro-Tem Charles English says, “Tell your legislator enough is enough, demand that theytake their hands off the different pots of money, and tell themto fixtheir own problems and leave us alone so we can take care of our own communities.”