A VISIT FROM THE TAXMAN Special guest speaker Dan McAllister, the San Diego County treasurer and tax collector, spoke to the La Jolla Town Council at its Aug. 9 meeting, answering questions from the public about the tax environment in San Diego and the focuses of his office. “We are in the business of taxing people. It’s not a popular sport,” he said. Last September, the San Diego County Treasurer’s Office sent out 978,000 tax bills to homeowners and parcel owners in San Diego County — a rate that has actually decreased over the years due to the replacement of high-rise condos with high-rise apartment buildings, he said. “Where there were once many single taxable parcel parking lots, there are now a number of high rises that have come out of the ground, in spite of the downturn economy. These were originally intended to become condominiums, where the single parcels would have been supplanted by 300 to 500 individual taxable condo units, and they couldn’t sell them,” he explained. “They’ve converted many of those buildings now to luxury apartment buildings — that’s one taxable parcel.” McAllister said housing prices in certain communities, including La Jolla, are on the rise, which “makes the tax collector happy,” he said. “Things are looking better. There are pockets — and I think La Jolla is one of them — where you can see things are starting to pick up,” he said. “Things might stay on the market a little longer, but they are selling.” Another achievement McAllister noted was San Diego’s high collection rate, which was one of the highest in the state last year. “We ended our year with a 98-percent collection rate,” he said. “I’m so proud of our team for being able to do that.” He attributed part of the low delinquency rates to the fact that banks and lenders have taken back many foreclosed properties. “They don’t want a tax blemish on a property they will ultimately turn around and sell, so they race down and pay taxes in a timely fashion. Another thing we’ve found is that they don’t challenge the assessed valuation of the property they are going to sell,” he said. Now, five years after the initial economic downturn in 2007, many impressive properties were sold at auction, which reclaimed unpaid taxes over the years, he said. “We have started to see the outfall of the downturn economy, too, because we have the right to sell property for people who have not paid their taxes for five years or more,” he said. “We’re going to see more in the next few years.” McAllister emphasized the importance of his office to educate all taxpayers about their taxes by evolving with the changing demographic in San Diego. “We have learned a lot about the changing landscape of people, cultures and languages in San Diego,” he said. “If we’re not prepared to deal with them linguistically or culturally, we’re behind the process. We need to be able to develop materials that are easy to understand.” His office is also focusing on embracing the latest technology to drive its “E-nitiative,” which allows taxpayers to pay taxes online. “We see e-check as the growth area. It’s easy, it’s free, if you make prior arrangements with your bank, it’s a breeze to do it, so we would like to expand that,” he said. For more information or for educational materials about the San Diego Treasurer’s Office,, visit www.sdtreas-tax.com or call (619) 531-5507. TOWN COUNCIL NEWS • Cindy Greatrex announced she is stepping down as LJTC president. First Vice President Ken King will take over as president at next month’s meeting. • The Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival committee is continuing its plea for donations for the annual December event, announced LJTC trustee and committee chairwoman Ann Kerr Bache. “We really need to raise money for the parade, or else come September or so, we’ll just have to make the decision that we can’t do the parade this year. I’m hoping that won’t happen,” she said. Donations will be accepted online at www.ljparade.com. • The next LJTC SunSetter happy hour will take place on Aug. 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the newly remodeled penthouse restaurant, Cusp Dining & Drinks, on the 11th floor of Hotel La Jolla. The event is $5 for LJTC members, $10 for nonmembers and free for new members who sign up and pay dues at the event. • The next LJTC SunSetter happy hour will take place on Aug. 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the newly remodeled penthouse restaurant, Cusp Dining & Drinks, on the 11th floor of Hotel La Jolla. The event is $5 for LJTC members, $10 for nonmembers and free for new members who sign up and pay dues at the event. • Herringbone was introduced as this month’s LJTC gold member. The new restaurant, located at 7837 Herschel Ave., is currently dishing out its $1 oyster and drink specials every weekday from 4 to 6 p.m., announced 2nd vice president John Weinstein. • The La Jolla Dancing with the Stars committee decided to host the inaugural celebrity dancing event in September 2013, announced trustee and event committee member Nancy Gardner. “We want this to be a signature event in La Jolla. We want to do it right so it’s a big deal and an annual fundraiser,” she said. The committee is continuing its efforts to collaborate with different groups in the community to bring together a lively, entertaining fundraiser for everyone in the community to enjoy. Gardner welcomed anyone who would like to participate in planning the event to join committee members at their upcoming meeting at Hennessey’s, located at 7811 Herschel Ave., at 5 p.m. on Aug. 27. CITY AND STATE NEWS • As the assembly nears the end of its legislative session, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher’s office is focusing on several bills including the Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies program, otherwise known as the SAFE bill, which will reform the board that oversees the roadside emergency callbox system, announced the assemblyman’s representative Sterling McHale. The assemblyman is also working on the proper implementation of Chelsea’s Law, he said. “It was such a massive law that was passed that incorporated so many different things that we need to make sure it is implemented correctly and efficiently because if it is not implemented fully and correctly, it won’t be worth what it can,” he said. McHale said he expects Governor Jerry Brown to sign the bills as they approach his desk. • Congresswoman Susan Davis recently helped introduce the bipartisan Community Post Office Relocation Act, which would allow nonprofit groups to have the first right to purchase post offices that are up for sale or relocation. The congresswoman also introduced legislation to name the new courthouse downtown the James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep United States Courthouse, honoring two judges who were instrumental in the Southern District. She is also pushing for the implementation of the Transparency for Lethal Control Act, which would require Wildlife Services to disclose more information about the animals its trappers kill across the country. NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS • Newly refinished flower planters are back up on Girard Avenue from Prospect Street to Silverado Avenue, announced trustee and Streetscape Committee member Egon Kafka. • District A school board candidate and National University professor Mark Powell introduced himself to the council at its August meeting. “I’m running for school board on three really basic common sense principals: to promote future effectiveness, restore the budget and repair some parent confidence,” he said. “We’re looking at a district that fires its best teachers, fire sells oceanfront properties to pay for future salaries, makes promises it can’t keep by offering raises. The district is in bad shape and it needs to be fixed. I have the skills, knowledge and qualifications to do that.” • There were 74 condo and single family residence sales in La Jolla in the month of June, bringing the total year-to-date total for 2012 up to 359 sales, said trustee and La Jolla Real Estate Brokers Association (REBA) representative Nancy Gardner. • LJTC’s upcoming gold member and preventive care cardiologist, Dr. Michael Wright, introduced himself to the council. “I’m hoping that participating and meeting all of you and getting involved at the town level will allow me to get the word out in terms of prevention and maybe help some of you figure out whether you’re at risk or not,” he said. • New LJTC member and former San Diego school board superintendent Tom Goodman introduced himself to the council and answered questions from the public regarding the state of the current SDUSD school system. “I wish our nation and our state would make teaching a true profession where they would work year-round and be paid year-round, but that they are paid a decent wage and have respect and esteem in the public community,” he said “We have to work together to make teaching an admired, esteemed profession and we ought to pay them more and provide continuous training to keep up to date. Somehow, we have to bring respect and appreciation to our teachers.” • Sheila Fortune was recently named the official executive director of La Jolla Village Merchants Association (LJVMA), announced trustee and LJVMA member Egon Kafka. • Lifeguard union representative Ed Harris will return to the La Jolla Parks and Beaches (LJPB) committee to continue working with the community on a proposal for humans and seals to share the Children’s Pool beach, said LJPB president Patrick Ahern. The committee is also seeking donations for a sidewalk beautification project near the newly built lifeguard tower near Children’s Pool beach, as well as dealing with the odor by the cove, he said.