A half-percent local sales tax measure may be placed on this November’s ballot
Facing a General Fund budget shortfall of $3 million this year, and projected shortfalls in each of the next four years of at least $2 million, at its meeting of July 17, Sonoma’s City Council will decide whether or not to place a local, one-half-percent sales tax increase measure on the November, 2024 ballot.
If passed by a simple majority of the City of Sonoma’s registered voters, the added General Transactions and Use Tax is projected to bring $3 million each year to the city’s coffers, effectively closing the projected budget gap. The total sales tax charged in the City of Sonoma would rise from 9.5% to 10%. This is in line with the maximum sales tax level permitted under state law.
A live telephone poll of 200 registered voters in the city undertaken by EMC research indicated support for the tax increase exceeds the simple majority needed for its passage.
The proposed ballot language reads as follows:
“Shall the City of Sonoma measure to increase funding for essential city services, such as public safety, prompt emergency response times/ safe evacuation routes; improving traffic safety for pedestrians; maintaining streets/ sidewalks; enhancing youth recreation and parks; and funding affordable housing programs, by adopting a ½ percent sales tax, providing about $3,000,000 yearly for general governmental use until ended by voters, with independent audits, public disclosure of all spending, and all funds staying local, be adopted?”
Ballot measure arguments will be drafted by two council members, and an impartial analysis of the proposed measure will be prepared by the City Attorney. An argument against the measure may be submitted, no longer than 250 words in length, no later than ten days after the final filing date for submitting the primary arguments. The deadline for submitting rebuttal arguments to the primary arguments is August 12, 2024.
2 thoughts on “A half-percent local sales tax measure may be placed on this November’s ballot”
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Not right that @ 6000 registered voters in Sonoma get to decide what 25,000 unincorporated SV residents must pay: taxation without representation.
Tax and spend politicians. Who thinks life is better since end of ww2 with all the progressive tax and spend and money printing? We sure are in a big mess. This 1/2 percent won’t fix the inequities of the stolen boomer wealth. Take back the stolen Keynesian wealth. Let this system collapse and reset. Taxing hard working families more is WRONG.