Sonoma Report
Santa Rosa voters will decide in November whether to renew and increase the city’s local sales tax, after the City Council voted Tuesday to place the proposal on the 2026 ballot.
The measure would reauthorize the existing half-cent Measure Q sales tax at a 1-cent rate. The tax would remain in effect until voters end it, according to city officials.
If approved, the measure is expected to generate about $46 million each year for general city services. Officials said the revenue would support 911 emergency medical and fire response, police response to violent crimes, street and pothole repairs, and maintenance of public spaces.
The proposal comes as Santa Rosa continues addressing a structural budget deficit. City leaders said the city has cut roughly $25 million in ongoing expenses over the past three fiscal years, eliminated 82 positions and adopted pension reforms.
Mayor Mark Stapp said budget pressures have already led to reductions affecting fire, police, street maintenance and other services. Without additional local revenue, he said, further cuts are expected, including planned rotating fire station closures that could increase emergency response times.
More than 2,400 residents took part in a bilingual community outreach effort, city officials said. Public safety and road maintenance were identified as the community’s leading priorities. A recent survey found that as many as 62% of respondents said they would support the measure.
The proposed tax would also include independent audits and public disclosure of how the money is spent, according to city officials.
