Rocklin voters may decide on half-cent sales tax. How does it stack up across Placer County?
Rocklin voters will decide this November whether to join a growing number of Placer County communities that have approved local sales taxes to fund city services.
The Rocklin City Council recently approved placing a half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot. If voters approve the proposal, Rocklin’s sales tax rate would increase to 7.75% from 7.25%, matching neighboring Roseville and becoming one of the highest local sales tax rates in Placer County.
Currently, Rocklin shares the state’s base sales tax rate of 7.25% with Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln and unincorporated areas of Placer County.
Loomis voters previously approved a quarter-cent local sales tax, bringing the town’s rate to 7.5%, while Roseville voters approved a half-cent sales tax that increased the city’s rate to 7.75%.
If approved, Rocklin’s measure would generate an estimated $8 million annually for the city’s general fund, according to city officials.
The proposed ballot language states the revenue would help maintain public safety, financial stability and core city services, including police and fire protection, 911 emergency and medical response, park maintenance, wildfire prevention efforts, open-space preservation and other local programs.
The measure would remain in place unless ended by voters and includes annual audits and public spending disclosures.
Rocklin would not be the first Placer County community to ask voters for additional local sales tax revenue.
In 2016, Loomis voters approved Measure F, a quarter-cent sales tax projected to raise about $250,000 annually for general government services, including support for the Loomis Library. The measure passed with nearly 59% of the vote.
Eight years later, Loomis voters approved Measure C with more than 71% support, extending the existing tax without increasing the rate. The extension is expected to generate approximately $925,000 annually and will continue unless repealed by voters.
Roseville voters approved their own half-cent sales tax through Measure B in 2018 with 62% support. City officials estimated the measure would generate $18.4 million annually for services including police patrols, fire protection, 911 emergency response, street repairs, parks, libraries and recreation programs.
Rocklin’s proposal mirrors Roseville’s approach more closely than Loomis’. Both cities sought voter approval for a half-cent sales tax dedicated to maintaining local services while keeping revenue under local control.
If approved in November, Rocklin would move from the county’s base sales tax rate to a level already adopted by Roseville, leaving only Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln and unincorporated Placer County at the state’s minimum 7.25% rate among the county’s largest communities.
The vote will ultimately determine whether Rocklin joins its neighboring cities in relying on locally approved sales tax measures to help fund city services and long-term operations.
