News Digest News Digest (December 24, 2003)@smllhead: Full car tax refund expected

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced last week he would use his authority to fully reimburse cities' and counties' share of the car tax, Palo Alto breathed a $2.6 million sight of relief.

That's the amount the city annually receives from its share of the tax car owners pay annually to license their vehicles -- totaling around 2 percent of its $120.7 million general fund budget.

Mayor Dena Mossar still expects the state to reach into the city's pocketbook somehow to balance its budget deficit, "but I am glad that one source of funding at least for the moment is protected."

The city's 2003-2004 budget does not include any revenue from the car tax.

In recent weeks, various cities and counties had been lobbying the state -- and threatening lawsuits -- to try to get the funds returned. --Bill D'Agostino
Adopt-A-Park Fund receives $50,000 contribution

An unnamed leaseholder at the Palo Alto Airport donated $50,000 for the city to retrofit the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretation Center with new sound-proof windows and doors to deaden noise from aircraft.

Over the years, the airport's Community Relations Committee has discussed the problem of aircraft noise being a nature center nuisance. As a result of these discussions, a member of the committee offered to personally finance improvements to the nature center that would make the facility quieter and more comfortable to students and visitors.

The donation was made in memory of Laurence D. Roy, a science teacher in the Eastside Union High School District in San Jose, founder of Roy-Aero Enterprises and one of the principal leaseholders at the Palo Alto Airport until his death in 1994.
Volunteer donates $50,000 for police scholarship

A longtime Palo Alto Police Department volunteer recently donated $50,000 to establish a scholarship program for students who are interested in entering the law enforcement profession.

Martin Agueret, a volunteer since 1984, has given more that 4,200 hours to the police department and also volunteers at the library. Between the two, he has donated more that 8,500 hours of service to the city. Through this fund, Martin looks forward to giving youth a start toward a career of service.

A $3,000 scholarship will be awarded annually. Information about the scholarship is available from the Police Department.

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