Did Sacramento-area cities’ tax measures pass or fail this election? Here’s the latest
Early results suggest that voters were divided on a sweep of proposed sales tax increases across the Sacramento region, intended to fund road improvements, libraries, economic development, police and fire departments and other services.
As of Tuesday night, three of six sales tax increases had pulled ahead in early voting tallies.
Collectively, the measures stand to funnel more than $100 million annually into eight local municipalities. In the months leading up to the election, residents have weighed the possible benefits — bolstering city infrastructure, augmenting efforts to decrease homelessness and filling budget deficits imposed by inflation — against the costs, which opponents argue are often felt most keenly by the poorest members of the community.
Most of the taxes would extend into perpetuity until repealed by voters, though two municipalities — Placer County and Woodland — built in time limits of 30 years and 8 years, respectively.
As of 10 p.m., a proposed, 1% sales tax increase in Folsom was behind, with 61% opposing the measure.
The city projected the tax would bring in about $29 million annually for police, fire, parks and trails, economic development and other services.
Gary Qualset, a CPA who serves as treasurer for Citizens Against Folsom Tax Initiatives, said he was unsurprised by the early results.
“People feel like they’re taxed quite a bit already,” he said. “They’re also just not clear that the city really needs the money.”
A 30-year, half-cent sales tax in the Placer County cities of Lincoln, Rocklin and Roseville was just short of the two-thirds approval required to pass the tax, as of Tuesday night. The tax would raise around $41 million annually for transportation projects like widening Highway 65, fixing a bottleneck at the interchange of Highway 65 and Interstate 80, and repairing local roads.
A 1% sales tax increase in West Sacramento had pulled ahead, with 54% in favor.
Many of the early Yolo County results were based on mail-in ballots.
The funds — a projected $20 million annually — would go into West Sacramento’s general fund, according to city analysis, though advocates have noted priorities including police and fire departments, roads and potholes, parks, trails and efforts to decrease homelessness.
A 1% sales tax increase in Davis was also ahead, with 62% in favor in early tallies. The measure would raise $11 million annually for general governmental purposes.
A 1% sales tax increase in Winters was ahead, with 60% in favor. The revenues, projected at $1.2 million annually, would go into the city’s general fund. Advocates argued the funding is needed to repair aging facilities, recruit and retain city staff, fix streets and sidewalks, and maintain and improve core city services like emergency response, parks, trails, youth programs and economic development.
A 1% sales tax increase in Woodland was behind, with 45% in favor and 55% opposed. The tax revenues, projected at $16.5 million annually for 8 years, would go into the city’s general fund. Advocates want the dollars to boost efforts to address homelessness, maintain parks, roads and sidewalks, cut emergency response times and increase police and fire services.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 10:35 PM.
