Yorba Linda sees dip in sales tax collections; Citizen of the Year nominations due Sept. 3

 The frequent updates to Yorba Linda's government revenues and expenditures presented to City Council members provide a real-time look at the state of the city's overall economy.

For example, the most recent update to the council came earlier this month from the city's finance director and treasurer Dianna Honeywell just before a new fiscal year starts July 1.

Most notable in Honeywell's June 4 report was a sizable dip in the city's sales tax income to $8.6 million, some $640,000 less than expected when council adopted the budget last year. Sales tax is the city's second-largest source of revenue behind property taxes.

Honeywell said in her report: “Consumer spending is down across most categories due to inflation and higher interest rates. Historically strong sectors in the city are down due to businesses scaling back on capital equipment purchases as interest rates remain high.”

She noted the state and county “pool allocation to each city is based on proportional cash receipts within the county each quarter, among other factors,” and the allocation has been “negatively impacted by the same factors impacting other sectors in the city.”

Property tax revenue is expected to jump $473,310 to $25.9 million. As Honeywell reported: “Increases in property tax are driven mainly by higher property values and the fine tuning of original estimates.”

Some $2.4 million in franchise taxes are expected to be collected by the city, $81,685 more than anticipated. Ultimately, residents pay these fees, which are detailed on their utility bills.

Interestingly, most of the increase will come from Southern California Edison and Republic Services trash hauling, $89,885 and $38,300, respectively. About $55,500 less will be paid by the Spectrum cable television provider, which echos a nationwide trend of cord-cutting.

Overall, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the city anticipates revenue totaling $49.5 million and expenses totaling $48.9 million. The $621,000 excess, when added to the city's existing reserve fund, would total $25.3 million and represent 53.7% of the year's general budget operating fund.

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Deadline for nominations for Yorba Linda's 21^st annual Citizen of the Year selection is Sept. 3, with the chosen party honored on Oct. 16 at the Mayor's State of the City address at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.

Applications are available on the city website. A five-member committee composed of the mayor and one representative from each of the city's commissions – planning, parks and recreation, traffic and library – will review nominations and make the selection.

Among four criteria for nominations: “Special consideration will be given to nominees whose volunteer work directly benefits Yorba Linda and/or brings significant recognition to the city.”

City employees and current elected or appointed officials are not eligible for nomination.

Filing period begins for candidates to represent Yorba Linda on governing bodies

 A four-week filing period begins July 15 for candidates seeking to represent Yorba Linda residents on City Council and school and water board positions scheduled for the Nov. 5 election ballot.

Filing for candidacy can begin online July 15, but the process must be completed by Aug. 9 at the registrar of voters office, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building C, Santa Ana. If an incumbent fails to file, the deadline for the position is extended three days.

City Council candidates file at City Hall with the City Clerk during the same time period.

Three positions – now held by Tara Campbell, Beth Haney and Peggy Huang – on Yorba Linda's City Council are scheduled for the ballot. Campbell and Haney were first elected in 2016 and appointed to office in 2020 when nobody filed to run against them.

Huang previously served two council terms, winning the most votes in 2014 and 2018. She lost a 2020 primary election for Congress and a 2022 election for Superior Court judge. She was appointed to the council in February after the resignation of Gene Hernandez

Hernandez left his 11-year council position after he was appointed Yorba Linda Water District director in January. Huang is eligible for a third council term under the provisions of the city's three-term limit law because her appointment time is less than two years.

Two positions – now held by Hernandez and Trudi Kew DesRoches – at the Yorba Linda Water District are scheduled for the ballot. DesRoches, the first woman to serve on the body since its creation as a mutual water agency in 1909, was elected to a first term in 2020.

A position on the 10-member board of the Orange County Water District now held by Roger Yoh representing Yorba Linda, Placentia, La Palma and parts of Buena Park and Cypress is set for the ballot. Yoh, from Buena Park, was first elected in 2004.

A slot on the seven-member county Municipal Water District board now held by Al Nederhood to represent Yorba Linda, Placentia, Brea, Buena Park, La Habra and La Palma is set for the ballot. Nederhood, a former Yorba Linda Water District director, was elected in 2020.

All three Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District trustees elected in 2020 are expected to seek new terms: Shawn Youngblood representing the northwest Area 1, Marilyn Anderson representing the southwest Area 2 and Leandra Blades representing the eastside Area 3.

The contest already is shaping up to be a contentious ballot battle. A group called Students First PYLUSD endorsed incumbent Anderson in Area 2 and this year's El Dorado High PTA president Tricia Quintero in Area 1.

Shani Murray, a group representative, said in an email they anticipate endorsing a candidate in Area 3. Campaign literature has been printed and distributed, with a gathering set for Saturday at 9 a.m. at Tri-City Park.

In the North Orange County Community College District, the trustee seat held by Ryan Bent, which represents nearly all of Yorba Linda, also is set for the ballot. He was elected in 2016.