Kudos to J.J. Gasparotti for keeping this issue alive. Many long-term Laguna residents are on a fixed income and, like the rest of us residents, approximately $2,000 of their property tax dollars are going to pay unreimbursed cost for tourists. It is projected that these costs will increase every year. Laguna’s public safety (police, fire, lifeguards) and other public costs are way out of proportion for a city of our size. Tourists are not good from a taxpayer standpoint. Isn’t the purpose of the City Council to use property tax income to the highest and best usage? The argument has been made that tourists support local businesses. In reality, Laguna taxpayers are subsidizing local businesses located on Laguna property owned by outsiders and run by outsiders.
George Orff, Laguna Beach
