L.A. voters face decisions on police tax, bay cleanup bond.

WHILE most of the attention in November's election will be on the presidential election and high-profile state initiatives, several measures will appear on ballots in L.A. County that would have significant economic impacts of their own.

The biggest is Measure A, which would raise the sales tax a half-cent to the maximum 8.75 percent allowed by state law. This would raise roughly $550 million a year to go toward the hiring of more police and sheriff's officers.

L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca, who had seen $66 million slashed from his budget in the last two fiscal years, spent most of the year trying to put this measure on the ballot. He failed to get enough signatures, which forced him to turn to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. After more than a month of debate, the board voted 4-1 to send the measure to voters.

But Measure A faces steep odds. First, as a special purpose tax, it needs two-thirds voter approval. "If this was a simple majority, it would probably pass, given the popular appeal of increasing public safety," said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies. "But two-thirds is a very high bar."

In addition, L.A. County District Attorney Steve Cooley said Measure A doesn't include more funding for prosecutors to handle the expected increase in arrests with more officers on the streets. He said he might campaign against the proposal if he doesn't receive assurances of more funding.

There is also concern from some business groups, along with state Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Los Angeles, that if the measure passes and the sales tax cap is reached, it would prevent enactment of a sales tax for transit projects, including a light rail line from downtown L.A. to the Westside.

Finally, there's the traditional argument against local sales tax hikes: that consumers will go outside the county to make big purchases.

For example, auto malls in Ontario and Thousand Oaks could expect an uptick in business from L.A. County residents.

Among other local measures is Measure O, a $500 million bond issuance that the L.A. City Council placed on the ballot last month to fund projects to reduce runoff into the Santa Monica Bay. The city faced costly state sanctions if it did not act to improve its storm drain and sewer systems. The bond measure would also fund programs to reduce runoff at its source, through education campaigns aimed at residents and business owners.

If the bond measure passes, it would provide a boost to the city's long-neglected basic infrastructure. The downside: more inconvenience as commuters and residents grapple with increased construction.

Santa Monica residents will be deciding whether to raise that city's hotel bed tax rate to 14 percent from 12 percent, if the hike is approved, Santa Monica's tax rate would be on a par with those in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles.