Election Results Wednesday evening showed voters in three North Orange County cities were overwhelmingly in support of raising how much they pay in sales taxes to help dig out their cities from deficits that are millions of dollars deep.
Officials in some of those cities, like Buena Park, pitched the measure as a way to hire more police officers and protect various quality of life aspects.
But in Orange, results continued to show a slight majority of voters so far were narrowly against bumping up their sales tax from 7.75% to 8.25% in a city where officials were initially looking down the barrel of a projected $19 million budget deficit earlier this year.
That projection led elected officials there to make a series of cuts to spending over the summer and ask voters to weigh in on a 0.5% sales tax increase Nov. 5 in an effort to avoid a municipal budget crisis.
Meanwhile in San Clemente, results continued to show voters haven’t reached the supermajority needed to raise the sales tax by 0.5% to exclusively fund sand replenishment along the city’s disappearing coastline.
The November sales tax measures follow Westminster voters approving a 0.5% sales tax increase in March to help fund emergency services, maintain public places like parks and prevent future cuts to the police and fire department.
These types of measures landed on the ballot as city officials across the county warn of a poor fiscal outlook – one that is threatening to decimate public services like police and fire, city events and local libraries – as spending on things like public safety outpaces revenues.
[Read: Voters Across OC Are Considering Tax Increases This Year]
It also comes as voters weighed in on a host of local school district multi-million dollar bond measures this election intended to fund school and classroom repair and upgrades. If approved, the bond measures would also increase property taxes.
Here’s a breakdown of where voters stood Wednesday night on a host of measures that if approved would bump up taxes.
City of Orange
Election results as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday showed about 51% of voters were against a 0.5% sales tax increase while 49% were in favor of it – a difference of 1,202 votes.
If approved, the measure could stop some city services from being cut or scaled back on, something residents and city staff have been seeing the repercussions of after a slew of cuts.
[Read: Orange Sales Tax Increase Election Night Results 2024]
The city is currently in a budget deficit of around $7 million. It’s projected to reach $26 million by 2029.
In June, city officials slashed services like the janitorial budget for city buildings which has left staff and residents dealing with vermin – something officials were able to later turn around.
They also cut the crossing guard program which was reinstated after Orange parents questioned the move and OC Supervisors agreed to aid the city with funds.
San Clemente
Wednesday’s 5 p.m. updated ballot counts showed about 63% of voters were in favor of a sales tax increase dubbed Measure BB while about 37% of voters were against it — a difference of 7,835 votes.
Even though a majority is in support of the measure, it hasn’t reached the two-thirds supermajority threshold to pass.
If approved, funds generated from the increased sales tax would only be used for sand replenishment efforts to bolster the city’s diminishing coastline.
Since the tax has a specific use, it needs at least 66.7% “yes” votes to pass.
The city’s sales tax is currently 7.75%. If the measure is approved, the tax would increase to 8.25%
[Read: San Clemente Needs More Money For Sand]
The sales tax increase is meant to fund future projects that will bring more sand to the dwindling coastline. If approved, the increase will generate an estimated $7 million annually — enough for the city to place nearly 150,000 cubic yards of sand annually in addition to beach maintenance.
La Habra
Wednesday 5 p.m. election results showed about 68% of voters were in favor of a sales tax increase dubbed Measure V while about 32% of voters were against it – a difference of 5,739 votes.
If approved, the measure would increase the current 8.25% sales tax to 8.75% after elected officials cut and deferred over $6 million in spending to balance their fiscal year budget.
[Read: La Habra Voters to Decide on Sales Tax Increase in November]
This means the city would have one of the highest sales tax rates in OC under Santa Ana, Westminster and Los Alamitos – all of which have a 9.25% tax rate, according to the California Franchise Tax Board.
City officials voted to put Measure V on the November ballot after the annual cost for the city to contract with Los Angeles County for fire services shot up by millions of dollars.
If passed, city officials estimate the measure would generate over $7.8 million than the current 8.25% sales tax rate – bringing in a total of $15.6 million.
Buena Park
Election results at 5 p.m. Wednesday night showed 74% of voters in favor of a 1% sales tax increase, known as Measure R, as 26% were opposed to the tax hike – a 10,217 vote differential.
If passed, the city’s sales tax would rise to 8.75% – the second highest rate in Orange County – while estimated to bring in an additional $20 million to help fund essential services like street repairs and park maintenance, along with paying for more police officers.
[Read: Buena Park Leaders Put Sales Tax Hike on November Ballot]
Buena Park City Council members brought forth the ballot measure after a report from a consulting firm – hired by the city manager’s office – said the city’s police department is understaffed and recommended hiring more police officers, a proposal that would cost roughly $6 million.
Seal Beach
Wednesday 5 p.m. election results showed about 68% of voters were in favor of a sales tax increase dubbed Measure GG while about 32% of voters were against it – a difference of 4,871 votes.
It comes as Seal Beach grapples with a $6 million deficit.
If approved, the measure would increase Seal Beach’s current 8.25% sales tax to 9.25% putting the coastal city in OC’s highest tax bracket along with Los Alamitos, Westminster and Santa Ana.
[Read: Seal Beach Voters to Decide on Sales Tax Increase to Curb $6 Million Deficit]
Officials estimate the measure could generate $3 million annually – only half of the city’s current deficit.
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter and corps member with Report for America, a GroundTruth initiative. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.
Angelina Hicks is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13.
Hugo Rios is a Voice of OC reporting fellow. Contact him at hugo.toni.rios@gmail.com or on Twitter @hugoriosss.
Gigi Gradillas is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. Contact her at gigi.gradillas@gmail.com or on Twitter @gigigradillas.
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