Road Tax Proponents Say Foes Hide Money

Proponents of Measure P, the $275-million Santa Clarita Valley road tax initiative, announced Thursday that they have raised $25,590 to champion the measure--and accused their opponents of hiding how much money has been collected to fight the tax.

“We’d like to know what our opponents are trying to cover up,” said J.J. O’Brien, a retired CHP officer and member of the Roads Now Committee. O’Brien said the opponents have spent “all sorts of money” mailing flyers and telephoning voters. “Where does their money come from?”

Lou Garasi, who has spearheaded Measure P, said the Roads Now Committee will consider asking the district attorney and state Fair Political Practices Commission to investigate if the opponents do not file financial statements.

“We have nothing to hide,” responded Ed Schullery, treasurer of an anti-tax group named SMRT, for Stop Mello-Roos Tax. “If they think we’ve raised more, it’s up to them to prove it.”

The measure, which needs a two-thirds vote to pass Nov. 7, would create an assessment district that would cover most of the Santa Clarita Valley--technically known as a Mello-Roos district, named after legislators who wrote the bill authorizing such districts.

The tax would add between $75 and $200 to annual residential property tax bills. Commercial and industrial buildings would be assessed 75 cents per square foot.

SMRT did not file campaign disclosure reports because it has received only about $300 in contributions, well below campaign disclosure requirements, Schullery said.

Stella Matthews, head of the campaign reporting section of the Los Angeles County registrar of voters office, confirmed that campaign committees do not have to file financial statements until they raise or spend more than $1,000.

The Roads Now Committee has spent $20,140 so far, according to disclosure statements. The committee paid $10,000 to John Davies Advertising, a Santa Barbara consulting firm.

Major contributions included $5,000 from Interiors Unlimited, $1,500 from Magic Mountain and $2,000 from Gruber Systems, where Garasi is president. Garasi’s company also donated $4,400 in office services. Four executives at Newhall Land & Farming Co., the valley’s leading developer, contributed a total of $1,600, the statements said.