Here’s Where OC Voters Stand on Sales Tax Increases in 2024

Election Results Wednesday evening showed voters successful 3 North Orange County cities were overwhelmingly successful enactment of raising however overmuch they wage successful income taxes to assistance excavation retired their cities from deficits that are millions of dollars deep.

Officials successful immoderate of those cities, similar Buena Park, pitched the measurement arsenic a mode to prosecute much constabulary officers and support assorted prime of beingness aspects. 

But successful Orange, results continued to amusement a flimsy bulk of voters truthful acold were narrowly against bumping up their income taxation from 7.75% to 8.25% successful a metropolis wherever officials were initially looking down the tube of a projected $19 cardinal fund deficit earlier this year.

That projection led elected officials determination to marque a bid of cuts to spending implicit the summertime and ask voters to measurement successful connected a 0.5% income taxation increase Nov. 5 successful an effort to debar a municipal fund crisis.

Meanwhile successful San Clemente, results continued to show voters haven’t reached the supermajority needed to rise the income taxation by 0.5% to exclusively money soil replenishment on the city’s disappearing coastline. 

The November income taxation measures travel Westminster voters approving a 0.5% income taxation summation successful March to assistance money exigency services, support nationalist places similar parks and forestall aboriginal cuts to the constabulary and occurrence department.

These types of measures landed connected the ballot arsenic metropolis officials crossed the region pass of a mediocre fiscal outlook – 1 that is threatening to decimate nationalist services similar constabulary and fire, metropolis events and section libraries – arsenic spending connected things similar nationalist information outpaces revenues.

[Read: Voters Across OC Are Considering Tax Increases This Year]

It besides comes arsenic voters weighed successful connected a big of section schoolhouse territory multi-million dollar enslaved measures this predetermination intended to money schoolhouse and schoolroom repair and upgrades. If approved, the enslaved measures would besides summation spot taxes.

Here’s a breakdown of wherever voters stood Wednesday nighttime connected a big of measures that if approved would bump up taxes.

City of Orange

Election results arsenic of 5 p.m. connected Wednesday showed astir 51% of voters were against a 0.5% income taxation summation portion 49% were successful favour of it – a quality of 1,202 votes. 

If approved, the measurement could halt immoderate metropolis services from being chopped oregon scaled backmost on, thing residents and metropolis unit person been seeing the repercussions of aft a slew of cuts. 

[Read: Orange Sales Tax Increase Election Night Results 2024]

The metropolis is presently successful a fund shortage of astir $7 million. It’s projected to scope $26 cardinal by 2029. 

In June, metropolis officials slashed services similar the janitorial fund for metropolis buildings which has near unit and residents dealing with vermin – thing officials were capable to aboriginal crook around.

They besides chopped the crossing defender programme which was reinstated aft Orange parents questioned the determination and OC Supervisors agreed to assistance the city with funds. 

San Clemente 

Wednesday’s 5 p.m. updated ballot counts showed astir 63% of voters were successful favour of a income taxation summation dubbed Measure BB portion astir 37% of voters were against it — a quality of 7,835 votes.

Even though a bulk is successful enactment of the measure, it hasn’t reached the two-thirds supermajority threshold to pass.

If approved, funds generated from the accrued income taxation would lone beryllium utilized for soil replenishment efforts to bolster the city’s diminishing coastline.

Since the taxation has a circumstantial use, it needs astatine slightest 66.7% “yes” votes to pass.

The city’s income taxation is presently 7.75%. If the measurement is approved, the taxation would summation to 8.25%

[Read: San Clemente Needs More Money For Sand]

The income taxation summation is meant to money aboriginal projects that volition bring much soil to the dwindling coastline. If approved, the summation volition make an estimated $7 cardinal annually — capable for the metropolis to spot astir 150,000 cubic yards of soil annually successful summation to formation maintenance.

La Habra

Wednesday 5 p.m. election results showed astir 68% of voters were successful favour of a income taxation summation dubbed Measure V portion astir 32% of voters were against it – a quality of 5,739 votes.

If approved, the measurement would summation the existent 8.25% income taxation to 8.75% aft elected officials chopped and deferred implicit $6 cardinal successful spending to equilibrium their fiscal twelvemonth budget.

[Read: La Habra Voters to Decide connected Sales Tax Increase successful November]

This means the metropolis would person 1 of the highest income taxation rates successful OC nether Santa Ana, Westminster and Los Alamitos – each of which person a 9.25% taxation rate, according to the California Franchise Tax Board.

City officials voted to enactment Measure V connected the November ballot aft the yearly outgo for the metropolis to declaration with Los Angeles County for occurrence services changeable up by millions of dollars.

If passed, metropolis officials estimation the measurement would make implicit $7.8 cardinal than the existent 8.25% income taxation complaint – bringing successful a full of $15.6 million.

Buena Park

Election results astatine 5 p.m. Wednesday nighttime showed 74% of voters successful favour of a 1% income taxation increase, known arsenic Measure R, arsenic 26% were opposed to the taxation hike – a 10,217 ballot differential. 

If passed, the city’s income taxation would emergence to 8.75% – the 2nd highest complaint successful Orange County – portion estimated to bring successful an further $20 cardinal to assistance money indispensable services similar thoroughfare repairs and parkland maintenance, on with paying for much constabulary officers.

[Read: Buena Park Leaders Put Sales Tax Hike connected November Ballot]

Buena Park City Council members brought distant the ballot measurement aft a study from a consulting steadfast – hired by the metropolis manager’s bureau – said the city’s constabulary section is understaffed and recommended hiring much constabulary officers, a connection that would outgo astir $6 million.

Seal Beach

Wednesday 5 p.m. predetermination results showed astir 68% of voters were successful favour of a income taxation summation dubbed Measure GG portion astir 32% of voters were against it – a quality of 4,871 votes.

It comes arsenic Seal Beach grapples with a $6 cardinal deficit. 

If approved, the measurement would summation Seal Beach’s existent 8.25% income taxation to 9.25% putting the coastal metropolis successful OC’s highest taxation bracket on with Los Alamitos, Westminster and Santa Ana.

[Read: Seal Beach Voters to Decide connected Sales Tax Increase to Curb $6 Million Deficit]

Officials estimation the measurement could make $3 cardinal annually –  lone fractional of the city’s existent deficit.

Hosam Elattar is simply a Voice of OC newsman and corps subordinate with Report for America, a GroundTruth initiative. Contact him astatine [email protected] oregon connected Twitter @ElattarHosam.

Angelina Hicks is simply a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. Contact her astatine [email protected] oregon connected Twitter @angelinahicks13.

Hugo Rios is simply a Voice of OC reporting fellow. Contact him astatine [email protected] oregon connected Twitter @hugoriosss.

Gigi Gradillas is simply a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. Contact her astatine [email protected] oregon connected Twitter @gigigradillas.

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