Sales Tax Revenues Grow 5.5% In La Mirada

By Brian Hews

 

Sales tax revenues received by the City of La Mirada grew 5.5 percent in Fiscal Year 2012-2013.

Total gross receipts were up by $530,468 to $10,202,793 compared to the prior year’s amount of $9,672,325.

Sales tax revenues had dipped to as low as $7,996,513 in Fiscal Year 2009-10 during the depth of the Great Recession.

“We are pleased to see a continued strengthening in our local economy,” says Mayor Steve De Ruse.  “As the economy improves and business activity grows in La Mirada, these sales tax revenues enable the City to deliver the quality services local residents and businesses have come to expect.”

Revenues received in first quarter of 2013, which includes sales from January through March, were relatively flat from the prior year.  Business changes cut receipts from contractor supplies and the business and industry group.  Sales increased in the office supplies/furniture, home furnishings and automotive group.

Reports on exact revenues from Measure I, the one percent transactions and use tax  approved by more than 66 percent of La Mirada voters in November 2012, have not yet been received. Money generated by Measure I will be used to fund the City’s extensive infrastructure repair program.

Two estimated Measure I payments totaling $910,083 from the State Board of Equalization show revenues running ahead of initial projections.  The payments are subject to later adjustment by the State.  If revenues continue to be received at this level, Measure I could generate more than the $4 million originally projected during the current fiscal year.  More detailed numbers are expected to be received from the State by the end of the summer.

LA MIRADA, Calif. – Walmart today announced it will open a Walmart Neighborhood Market in La Mirada this fall at 14865 Telegraph Road. The 35,000 square foot store will bring about 65 new jobs to the community.

“Walmart Neighborhood Market will be an excellent addition to our local business community,” said La Mirada Mayor Steve De Ruse. “We are very pleased that Walmart is making a major investment to modernize a commercial area that suffered from vacancies for many years.  We look forward to Walmart Neighborhood Market bringing new jobs and expanded shopping opportunities to La Mirada.”

First opened in 1998, a Neighborhood Market format offers a quick and convenient shopping experience for customers who need groceries, pharmaceuticals and more, all at affordable prices. The stores are between 30,000 and 50,000 square feet in size, similar to a traditional grocery store.

“I’m excited to bring the Neighborhood Market concept to the La Mirada community as well as good jobs with great career opportunities for the area,” said new store manager David White.

The new La Mirada Neighborhood Market will feature a wide variety of products, including fresh produce, meats and dairy products, frozen foods, dry goods and staples, deli foods, bakery items, canned and packaged goods, condiments and spices, pet supplies, household supplies and a pharmacy.

A temporary hiring center will open Monday, July 29 at 10400 Pioneer Blvd., Suite 9, in Santa Fe Springs at the WorkSource Center. Interested applicants can apply online at http://careers.walmart.com, or visit the hiring center to utilize the online kiosks. The hiring center will be open from 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The majority of new associates will begin work in October to help prepare the store for its grand opening.

According to White, the store will be hiring both full- and part-time associates. “I’ll be hiring for a variety of positions including supervisors, department managers, sales associates, deli and bakery associates, cashiers, customer service associates, maintenance and more. I’m looking for hard-working, customer service oriented people looking for a job or a career with Walmart.” White, who started as an assistant manager with Walmart in 2004, and previously helped manage the Rosemead Walmart.

Earlier this year, Walmart announced that beginning Memorial Day, the company will offer a job to any honorably discharged veteran within his or her first 12 months off active duty through its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment and plans to hire more than 100,000 veterans over the next five years. During the first month of the commitment, Walmart hired more than 2,000 veterans. To learn more about the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, visit www.walmartcareerswithamission.com.

Walmart provides a benefits program to eligible full- and part-time associates. For example, it provides a variety of affordable health and well-being benefits including health-care coverage with no lifetime maximum. Walmart also offers eligible associates matching 401(k) contributions of up to 6 percent of pay, discounts on general merchandise, an Associate Stock Purchase Program and company-paid life insurance. Additionally, eligible associates receive a quarterly incentive based on store performance.

The Walmart Neighborhood Market will bring additional economic activity to the area and will increase foot-traffic for neighboring businesses. The store is expected to serve La Mirada residents as well as customers from La Habra, Whittier and Norwalk.

Local nonprofit organizations will also benefit from the retailer’s ongoing charitable contributions and support for community projects. As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, grants from the Walmart Foundation and the store will be offered annually starting at the store’s grand opening.

In 2012, Walmart, the Walmart Foundation, Sam’s Club and customers and associates throughout the state gave more than $26.3 million in cash and in-kind gifts to communities throughout California, supporting non-profits like food banks, job development organizations, veterans groups and educational programs. Los Angeles area recipients include the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, The ARC of Los Angeles and Orange Counties, Para Los Ninos, Greater La Puente Valley Meals on Wheels, Homes of Hope Foster Family Agency, Shepherd’s Pantry, among others.

The La Mirada Walmart Neighborhood Market will also include energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy, water consumption and minimize waste. Highly efficient and low-flow toilets and faucets will reduce the water used in the restrooms. The store will also operate recycling programs and promote sustainable product purchases.

In Los Angeles County, there are six Neighborhood Markets in Downey, Bell Gardens, Panorama City, Altadena, Hawthorne and Torrance and the company employs more than 13,000 associates in Los Angeles County.