This November, Moreno Valley voters will once again head to the polls to decide whether the city should move forward with implementing a one cent sales tax originally approved back in 2021.
That sales tax measure, Measure G, was to enact a one cent local sales tax that would go directly to city coffers for public safety and other services within the community. However, that tax was never implemented because the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration believes that the measure was not labeled correctly by the city.
“Although we believe that the measure is legal and was legal, the party we need to contract with at the state to administer it does not,” City Attorney Steve Quintanilla said. “So, in a nutshell, instead of engaging in lengthy and expensive litigation over this issue, it’s being recommended that the city council simply ask the voters to reconsider the one cent sales tax at the November election, and this time, we’ll label it as requested by the state, which is still a 1% sales tax.”
Those who spoke during the meeting were opposed to reauthorizing the sales tax measure noting that the economic situation has changed dramatically since the tax was first approved.
“We’re not in ’21 anymore, we’re worse off now,” Bob Palomarez, a resident, said. “And to put this on people’s backs with all the other bonds, it’s like nobody gives a damn about the working guy.”
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The city’s current sales tax rate is 7.75%. If the tax measure is approved, the sales tax would go up to 8.75%, bringing the Moreno Valley in line with the majority of the cities that make up the Western Riverside Council of Government including Corona, Riverside and San Jacinto.
“I hear everyone’s concerns, because everyone is out here going through death, taxes and bonds,” Mayor Pro Tem Cheylynda Barnard said. “So I’m just going to put it plain and simple: We’re putting it before the voters. The voters [can choose to not] vote for it, like it’s really that simple.”
The tax is estimated to bring in approximately $30 million per year. If approved by the voters in November, the additional one cent sales tax is set to go into effect April 1, 2025.
“At the end of the day, we are making a decision here to give the people the power to make a decision,” Mayor Ulises Cabrera said. “We’re deciding here to put the question on the ballot so that Moreno Valley voters, all of you at home, can decide whether or not you approve or disapprove of this particular measure. So we’re giving you the opportunity to decide and make that choice in November.”
In other council action: At the recommendation of the Riverside County Registrar of Voters, Moreno Valley will not be holding a special election to fill the District 3 vacancy as previously decided since the term is set to end in December.
A full recording of the meeting can be found here on the city’s YouTube channel.
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