Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Sacramento City Council Puts Sales Tax Increase On November Ballot

  •  Nick Miller 
  •  Bob Moffitt 
Tuesday, July 31, 2018 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
 

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sacramento will ask voters to increase the city sales tax to the highest in the region to pay for massive investments in public services, affordable housing and community programs.

City Council approved a ballot measure on Tuesday evening that would ask voters to double its existing “Measure U” sales tax to a full penny. This would raise the total tax to 8.75 percent, an increase that officials say would generate an estimated $100 million a year for not only police, firefighters and parks, but also money for affordable housing, homelessness and investment in communities of color.

“As a council and a community, today will be a day we remember as a day Sacramento defined its future,” Mayor Darrell Steinberg said of the plan, which passed by a 7-to-1 vote.

The Measure U tax went into effect in 2012 as the city was cutting jobs and reeling from a recession. It increased the city’s sales tax by half-a-penny and today generates approximately $47 million a year, which pays for 90 firefighters, 195 employees in the police department, 137 parks and recreation workers, in addition to funding for libraries, swimming pools and other amenities.

Measure U is set to expire in March of next year, however, which is why council is prioritizing its renewal this November.

City council held two meetings on Tuesday to debate the proposal and vote on its approval.

Councilwoman Angelique Ashby argued that increasing the tax by a full penny is crucial for the city’s future. “This is an opportunity, this is our moment,” she said. “This is a really exciting day for Sacramento.”

But some council members were concerned that asking for an additional half-penny is a gamble. “I happen to believe that there’s very substantial risk involved,” Councilman Jeff Harris said.

He was the lone vote against putting the increase on the ballot and instead proposed the idea of renewing Measure U separately, then also asking voters for a quarter-cent increase. “To me, that is a viable option,” he said, but later hinted that he would support the mayor’s proposal if it goes to the ballot.

“There’s no guarantees in life and in politics,” Steinberg responded to Harris, “but I think given the opportunities to invest … makes it in fact worth supporting.”

The measure would require only a simple majority of voters to pass, not two-thirds, because it does not mandate that the tax revenue be spent in a specific way.

A majority of speakers on Tuesday afternoon — including representatives with central city business groups and developers — supported the mayor’s plan for a full-cent increase.

“We are in a cycle right now, without redevelopment, without key resources, that these funds from Measure U could play a role in helping to further what really has been incredible economic development in this region,” said Michael Ault, with the Downtown Partnership, in support of the proposal.

Some opposed the mayor’s plan, however, arguing that the existing Measure U tax is sufficient, or that the additional revenue would not end up in underserved communities.

Longstanding Sacramento activist Dennis Neufeld said “the one-half cent sales tax should be more than enough to handle the spending priorities of this city.”

Alegra Taylor, who said she was at the meeting to represent the black community, said she was “tired of voting for things that my people don’t benefit from.”

“Stop promising promising the black community something that you are not giving,” she said. “If you want our vote, if you want my vote, show me what you’re going to do with that money that’s going to benefit black people.”

The mayor has said his proposal is partly in response to the police shooting of Stephon Clark, and that he wants revenue from the proposed tax increase to go toward job training, affordable housing and investment in Sacramento black communities.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about Election 2018

  • The Votes Are In. Here's How To Follow Along With CapRadio's Election Coverage.

    CapRadio's coverage of the 2018 elections.

    Related Stories

  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    The Cases For And Against Measure U

    Wednesday, October 31, 2018
    Sacramento's Measure U would expand and make permanent what was supposed to be a half-cent sales tax. We hear from people for and against the measure.
  • Bob Moffitt / Capital Public Radio

    Sacramento NAACP Chapter Comes Out Against City’s Measure U Sales Tax Increase

    Friday, October 12, 2018
    The organization says city leaders are trying to generate more revenue “on the backs of working families who already struggle to survive economically.”
  • Vanessa Nelson / Capital Public Radio

    After Stephon Clark’s Death, People Want More Investment In Sacramento’s Neighborhoods Of Color. Here’s How This Year’s Election Could Help.

    Thursday, April 5, 2018
    Some activists, demonstrators and residents are talking about Measure U — a city tax that brings in millions of dollars, mostly for police — to secure investment for communities.

 sacramento city councilcity councilElection 2018

Nick Miller

Managing Editor, News and Information

Nick Miller is an award-winning editor with more than 15 years of newsroom experience. Previously he was editor-in-chief of the East Bay Express in Oakland, and worked as an editor for 12 years at the Sacramento News & Review.  Read Full Bio 

 @NickMiller510 Email Nick Miller

Bob Moffitt

Former Sacramento Region Reporter

Bob reported on all things northern California and Nevada. His coverage of police technology, local athletes, and the environment has won a regional Associated Press and several Edward R. Murrow awards.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

California allocates $20M toward abortion clinics’ physical, digital security

January 25, 2023

Aaron Kehoe/AP

Suspect in Half Moon Bay farmworker massacre charged with 7 counts of murder

January 25, 2023

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

State Justice Department hasn’t probed — or even logged — all police shootings of possibly unarmed people

January 27, 2023

Most Viewed

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

California coronavirus updates: Pyongyang under lockdown for respiratory disease

Behind The I-80 Castle: A Drag-Racing, Beauty School Mogul’s Dream House

Cal State contends with 'unprecedented' enrollment declines

California allocates $20M toward abortion clinics’ physical, digital security

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

California coronavirus updates: Pyongyang under lockdown for respiratory disease

Behind The I-80 Castle: A Drag-Racing, Beauty School Mogul’s Dream House

Cal State contends with 'unprecedented' enrollment declines

California allocates $20M toward abortion clinics’ physical, digital security

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.