A do-over Friday on sales tax

It’s not over until the city council sings … again.

A special meeting of the Westminster City Council has been called for Friday, Aug. 7 at noon via web conference to again consider placing a measure on the Nov. 3 general election ballot for a 1.5-cent sales tax to last until ended by voters.

The council took up the same issue on Monday in a special meeting, but a vote to extend the existing 1-cent sales tax without a “sunset” provision failed. Four “yes” votes are needed, and Mayor Tri Ta abstained and Councilmember Tai Do voted “no.”

If either of them changed their responses to yes – assuming the other three councilmembers voted in favor again – the original proposal would be able to make Friday’s 5 p.m. deadline of the county registrar of voters to place it before voters in November.

City staff members on Monday warned the council that failure to extend and increase the existing Measure SS tax increase would place the city in a precarious financial position that could eventually lead to bankruptcy.