CLOCK TOWER at Westminster Civic Center. (OC Tribune photo).

An effort to get a proposed 1/2-cent sales tax increase for Westminster will go down to the last minute, perhaps literally.

Wednesday’s session of the Westminster City Council was intended to put the proposal before voters in time to get it on the ballot in the March 5, 2024 primary election as the deadline is Friday, Dec. 8.

However, only three of the five city council members showed up for Wednesday’s 2:30 p.m. meeting. Missing were Vice Mayor Nam Quan Nguyen (District 4) and Councilmember Amy Phan West (District 1). Four “yes” votes are needed.

According to City Manager Christine Cordon, one of the absent members pleaded “illness” and the other “wasn’t available.”

After some discussion the council agreed that the two missing members be contacted to try to give them details of the presentation given by a consultant and to seek to find a time to meet on Friday in time for the city clerk’s office to rush the paperwork to the Registrar of Voters’ office in Santa Ana.

The 1/2 cent sales tax increase is being sought because the city is relying on reserves to balance the budget, and unless more revenue is obtained, the reserves will be exhausted by 2027-2028.