A VISIT FROM THE TAXMAN<\/b> 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\u2019s not a popular sport,” he said. Last September, the San Diego County Treasurer\u2019s Office sent out 978,000 tax bills to homeowners and parcel owners in San Diego County \u2014\u00a0a 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\u2019t sell them,” he explained. “They\u2019ve converted many of those buildings now to luxury apartment buildings \u2014 that\u2019s 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 \u2014 and I think La Jolla is one of them \u2014\u00a0where 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\u2019s 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\u2019m 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\u2019t 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\u2019ve found is that they don\u2019t 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\u2019re 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\u2019re not prepared to deal with them linguistically or culturally, we\u2019re 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\u2019s easy, it\u2019s free, if you make prior arrangements with your bank, it\u2019s 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\u2019s Office,, visit www.sdtreas-tax.com or call (619) 531-5507. TOWN COUNCIL NEWS<\/b> \u2022 Cindy Greatrex announced she is stepping down as LJTC president. First Vice President Ken King will take over as president at next month\u2019s meeting. \u2022 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\u2019ll just have to make the decision that we can\u2019t do the parade this year. I\u2019m hoping that won\u2019t happen,” she said. Donations will be accepted online at www.ljparade.com. \u2022 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. \u2022 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. \u2022 Herringbone was introduced as this month\u2019s 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. \u2022 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\u2019s 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\u2019s, located at 7811 Herschel Ave., at 5 p.m. on Aug. 27. CITY AND STATE NEWS<\/b> \u2022 As the assembly nears the end of its legislative session, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher\u2019s 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\u2019s representative Sterling McHale. The assemblyman is also working on the proper implementation of Chelsea\u2019s 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\u2019t be worth what it can,” he said. McHale said he expects Governor Jerry Brown to sign the bills as they approach his desk. \u2022 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<\/b> \u2022 Newly refinished flower planters are back up on Girard Avenue from Prospect Street to Silverado Avenue, announced trustee and Streetscape Committee member Egon Kafka. \u2022 District A school board candidate and National University professor Mark Powell introduced himself to the council at its August meeting. “I\u2019m 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\u2019re looking at a district that fires its best teachers, fire sells oceanfront properties to pay for future salaries, makes promises it can\u2019t 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.” \u2022 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. \u2022 LJTC\u2019s upcoming gold member and preventive care cardiologist, Dr. Michael Wright, introduced himself to the council. “I\u2019m 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\u2019re at risk or not,” he said. \u2022 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.” \u2022 Sheila Fortune was recently named the official executive director of La Jolla Village Merchants Association (LJVMA), announced trustee and LJVMA member Egon Kafka. \u2022 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\u2019s 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\u2019s Pool beach, as well as dealing with the odor by the cove, he said.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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