The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted unanimously to support Proposition D, the Carlsbad Charter City Initiative, at its last board meeting.
“Allowing Carlsbad to be a charter city will allow more local control and has the potential to save the city millions of dollars in public improvements,” said Lou Storrow, chairman of the chamber board, which is comprised of 30 local business and six ex-officio members from the community.
Carlsbad voters will decide June 3 whether their city adopts its own charter, akin to a constitution, or continues to be governed by state laws as it has since its incorporation more than five decades ago.
Carlsbad is currently a general law city, which means its structure and operation follow laws established by the state of California. As a charter city, Carlsbad would have more autonomy in municipal affairs like finance, purchasing and contracting.
“A charter city will protect us from wasteful state mandates that increase costs and reduce what the city of Carlsbad can spend on needed local programs. It further ensures that more of our local tax dollars stay in Carlsbad for our police and fire departments,” said Ted Owen, president and CEO of the chamber.
The city has drafted a three-page character document, which would go into effect as soon as it is filed with the secretary of state if a simple majority of voters favor adoption of the charter. Five cities in San Diego County, Chula Vista, Del Mar, San Diego, San Marcos and Vista, have adopted their own charters.
Editor’s note: Residents voted to approve Prop. D by an overwhelming 82 percent at the June 3 Primary Election. The charter will go into effect once it is filed with the California Secretary of State.
“Allowing Carlsbad to be a charter city will allow more local control and has the potential to save the city millions of dollars in public improvements,” said Lou Storrow, chairman of the chamber board, which is comprised of 30 local business and six ex-officio members from the community.
Carlsbad voters will decide June 3 whether their city adopts its own charter, akin to a constitution, or continues to be governed by state laws as it has since its incorporation more than five decades ago.
Carlsbad is currently a general law city, which means its structure and operation follow laws established by the state of California. As a charter city, Carlsbad would have more autonomy in municipal affairs like finance, purchasing and contracting.
“A charter city will protect us from wasteful state mandates that increase costs and reduce what the city of Carlsbad can spend on needed local programs. It further ensures that more of our local tax dollars stay in Carlsbad for our police and fire departments,” said Ted Owen, president and CEO of the chamber.
The city has drafted a three-page character document, which would go into effect as soon as it is filed with the secretary of state if a simple majority of voters favor adoption of the charter. Five cities in San Diego County, Chula Vista, Del Mar, San Diego, San Marcos and Vista, have adopted their own charters.
Editor’s note: Residents voted to approve Prop. D by an overwhelming 82 percent at the June 3 Primary Election. The charter will go into effect once it is filed with the California Secretary of State.