01 Nov #ShopLaMirada and #DineLaMirada are not Empty Slogans

#ShopLaMirada and #DineLaMirada are not Empty Slogans, The Evidence Reveals It Helps Our Local Businesses and Economy

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the State, and particularly Los Angeles County, have shuttered many restaurants and businesses or severely limited them.  This has caused a loss of revenue for the local businesses who are unable to operate at all or are limited to a fraction of their full capacity for sales. A recent LA Times articles stated Los Angeles County could see a $1-billion decline in sales tax revenue this fiscal year, which ends June 30, because of the massive economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak since the beginning of the year. The decline is expected to surpass $2 billion between now and the end of fiscal 2021, according to county estimates released Wednesday. Cities like Santa Monica and City of Los Angeles have lost more than $300 million in local sales tax revenue due to these limitations.

However, at the beginning of this pandemic, La Mirada Residents have stepped up and shopped and dined locally to help their local establishments and restaurants. Although La Mirada had lost some cost of services income from the closure of Splash! and The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, La Mirada has seen a small increase in the sales tax revenue in the second quarter of 2020 when compared to the same quarter in 2019. Based on the loyal shopping and dining habits of our faithful residents, La Mirada has seen an increase of about $300,000 this quarter compared to the same quarter in 2019. While many cities have seen a substantial drop in sales tax revenue, La Mirada’s residents have been loyal and continued to spend their money locally. La Mirada’s Local Sales Tax Rate is now the lowest in County, a distinction it shares with about half of the county’s 88 cities. Most of the sales tax collected by local businesses goes to the State and County. La Mirada’s sales tax rate is only 9.5%. Of the 9.5 cents generated by every dollar of taxable sales in La Mirada, only 1 cent is returned directly to the City of La Mirada. Voters in several cities, such as Santa Fe Springs, have recently increased their sales tax rates to as high as 10.5%. Others such as Whittier, Lakewood, Norwalk and Long Beach have raised theirs to 10.25%.  La Mirada’s Measure I sales tax expired in April 2018, and has fueled more sales and dining spent in La Mirada which has helped the city avoid substantial losses that are evident in many other cities in Los Angeles County. So Continue to #ShopLaMirada and #DineLaMirada La Miradians! It Helps Our Local Economy, and our local businesses.

Thank you!

John Lewis, Esq.
Mayor of La Mirada