photo credit: Katy St. ClairSanta Rosa City Hall in 2022.
The Santa Rosa City Council voted Tuesday to place the measure on the November 2026 ballot. If approved, it would reauthorize the city's existing half-cent Measure Q sales tax at an updated 1-cent rate until ended by voters. City officials said the money would help support general services such as 911 emergency medical and fire response, police response to violent crimes, street and pothole repairs, and keeping public spaces safe and clean.
City leaders said Santa Rosa has cut about $25 million in ongoing expenses over the past three fiscal years, including eliminating 82 positions, and has implemented pension reforms to help reduce a long-running structural budget deficit. If voters approve the measure, it is expected to generate about $46 million a year for city services.
Mayor Mark Stapp said the city has already reduced spending on fire, police, street maintenance and other services because of budget pressures. He warned that without more local funding, more cuts are expected, including the planned rotating closure of fire stations that could slow emergency response times.
Over 2,400 residents participated in a bilingual community outreach effort, with public safety and road maintenance emerging as the community's top priorities, city officials said. A recent survey also found that up to 62% of respondents said they would support the tax measure.
If approved, the measure would include independent audits and public disclosure of spending, according to city officials.
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