The turnout Tuesday night at the Long Beach City Council must have been a blow to Republicans hoping to win control of City Hall this fall by capitalizing on the eye-popping 25 percent hike in property taxes imposed last May by the current Democratic administration.
Only four residents showed up to testify. Three are regulars at City Council meetings and one is a semi-regular.
The budget under discussion, for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, has no tax increase, and the Democratic administration is predicting no tax increases for another three years after that.
There were a couple of mitigating factors that might have affected turnout Tuesday night. It was the night of the school board vote, there was a concert at the Long Beach Middle School, and there were a couple of barbecues and other community events that might have kept turnout down.
If turnout is as poor at next Tuesday's second and final budget hearing, the Republican chances may dim even further.
Bill Murphy