Goleta Council Talks Tax Negotiations

SB Independent: The Goleta City Council pushed city staff on 5/21 to renegotiate the city's revenue neutrality agreement with the county. Currently, half of Goleta's taxes flow to county coffers so as to prevent financial strain to the county stemming from the city's incorporation in 2002. City Manager Dan Singer said that staff would prepare a report in six months, and that the city might see some relief in 2012 — when taxes might be reduced. Singer said that staff needed to study the issue further before approaching the county, noting that it “takes two parties to negotiate.”