Sacramento mayor proposes 2026 ballot measure to fund housing, homelessness
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- McCarty plans a November 2026 ballot measure to raise $8–9M for housing.
- Revenue would fund first-time buyer aid, renter assistance and tiny homes.
- McCarty and West Sacramento mayor will pursue MLB franchise campaign with sponsors.
Mayor Kevin McCarty will be asking Sacramento voters in the coming year to assist first-time homebuyers, renters on the verge of homelessness and fund his tiny home initiative.
McCarty announced his intention for a citywide measure on the November 2026 ballot at Monday’s State of the City address. The measure would adjust the city’s real estate transfer tax for high volume sales, McCarty said.
The initiative would require majority approval by the City Council to be placed on the ballot. It is estimated to generate about $8 to $9 million annually, said Geneva Jacob, a spokesperson for the mayor.
If approved by voters, money would help fund payment assistance to first-time home buyers, “struggling renters” and more tiny homes for the homelessness — one of the key city strategies to address homelessness under the mayor. McCarty said the ballot measure would help people live the “American Dream.”
“We don’t have a lot of general fund right now, so we’re working with stakeholders and talking about how this is structured,” he said on Monday morning at The Sofia, Home of B Street Theatre. “But I think that we need to address this, in order to make sure that Sacramento grows.”
The event marked McCarty’s first state of the city, a formal annual address by a city leader that typically summarizes recent achievements and outlines future plans. The mayor is nearing 11 months in office.
The event featured many of the prominent leaders from across the region including Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Assemblymember Maggie Krell, Sacramento State President Luke Wood, West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero and Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho.
At the address, McCarty also announced he and Guerrero would be launching a campaign to make Sacramento a “legitimate opportunity” for a permanent Major League Baseball team. The campaign will include working with regional business leaders for “corporate sponsorships.” The A’s are temporarily playing in West Sacramento but are expected to leave in the next few years.
Political and business leaders have discussed adding another major sports franchise to the area for years. McCarty said adding a franchise would be another way to grow the region’s economy and address city issues like public safety and more funding for youth programs.
“We really are in a chance to keep baseball here forever in Sacramento,” McCarty said. “We are a MLB-ready city.”
McCarty spent much of the address noting the city’s recent achievements before transitioning to a question and answer format with Capital Public Radio. Among the accomplishments highlighted were last year’s reduction in homelessness per Sacramento County’s Point In Time Count, opening more shelter beds, balancing the city budget without layoffs and the proposed expansion of the Sacramento Zoo.
Homelessness was a focus of the discussion with McCarty reiterating the city’s strategies in the coming years to create about 500 more shelters beds. The city currently offers roughly 1,700 beds, McCarty said on Monday.
The strategies include opening a safe camping site, safe parking site, four tiny home communities and two permanent supportive housing sites dependent on state funding. McCarty announced a new program that would have churches and nonprofit organizations house city-bought tiny homes on their property.
“We’re going to start to go out and ask the nonprofit community: how do you want to help?” McCarty said.
Near the end of the event, McCarty promised to complete the expansion of the Sacramento River Parkway — from Freeport to Folsom Parkway — by 2030. Such work, which will include a paved trail for bikers and pedestrians, has been discussed for decades.
“Like every big city in California, we certainly have our challenges, but we are undoubtedly a city on the rise,” McCarty said. “Big things ahead.”
This story was originally published October 20, 2025 at 11:02 AM.
