PVE Parcel Tax History

The History of Public Safety Parcel Taxes in PVE

Palos Verdes Estates has a unique public safety model. The City maintains its own local police department and pays directly for Los Angeles County fire and paramedic services.

Because PVE has very limited commercial tax revenue, the City has historically relied on voter-approved parcel taxes to help fund essential services.

Measure D: 2017

In 2017, Measure D asked voters to extend an expiring parcel tax for fire and paramedic services.

The measure was intended to continue dedicated funding for fire and emergency medical response. It would have continued a public safety revenue source that had supported the City’s ability to pay for these services.

Measure D did not pass.

The Aftermath of Measure D

After Measure D failed, the City faced a difficult financial reality. Essential services still had to be funded, but the dedicated parcel tax revenue supporting fire and paramedic services was no longer available.

The City was left with difficult choices:

• Reduce services

• Use reserves

• Reallocate existing revenues

• Ask voters to approve a new funding measure

Measure E: 2018

In 2018, voters approved Measure E, a law enforcement parcel tax dedicated to police services.

Measure E generated approximately $5 million annually and helped preserve the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department. But Measure E was limited in important ways:

• It was restricted to law enforcement

• It did not fund fire or paramedic services

• It had no cost-of-living adjustment

• It is set to expire on June 30, 2027

The Critical Lesson from Measure E

Measure E was not set at the level the City actually needed. It was set at a level believed most likely to pass under the two-thirds approval threshold required for City-sponsored special taxes.

That compromise matters today.

Because Measure E had no cost-of-living adjustment, revenues stayed flat while expenses continued to rise. Over time, the gap widened. What may have seemed achievable in 2018 became insufficient as public safety, labor, pension, insurance, infrastructure, and operating costs increased.

Measure PF is designed to avoid repeating that mistake.