Perris voters casting their ballots in the June 2 primary election will also be asked whether they support Measure B, a 1% local sales tax increase estimated to bring in $18 million annually.
The city of Perris currently has a sales tax rate of 7.75%, the same as the unincorporated parts of the county and eight other cities, including neighboring Canyon Lake, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
If voters approve Measure B, the city’s sales tax will increase to 8.75%, and be in line with a majority of Riverside County cities, including Menifee, Moreno Valley and Riverside, though voters in Riverside are headed to the polls next week to vote on whether to increase the city’s sales tax to 9% as part of an extension and increase to Measure Z.
As part of the measure, the city would create a Citizens Oversight Committee to review the administration and implementation of the tax, if approved. Additionally, any funds received from the sales tax would be subject to an annual independent audit as part of the city’s regular financial audit process.
Assistant City Manager Ernie Reyna said at the February 24 council meeting that the measure was being brought forward now due to decreasing revenues and increasing expenses in the city, specifically pointing to the rising costs of public safety, local infrastructure maintenance and insurance.
“At this point, the city is not experiencing any kind of financial distress, and we’re not in the moment where we need to be having a structural deficit, but we’re preparing and making sure that we’re not going to get to that level,” he said.
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At that meeting, the council voted 4-1 to send the measure to the voters with Councilmember David Starr Rabb voting against. Rabb said he felt the city should live within its means instead of asking residents to shoulder an additional financial burden at a time of increasing costs for housing, energy and food.
“My fear is if we send this to the voters, [and] the voters approve it, there’s no sunset provision,” Rabb, who is up for election this November, said at the February 24 meeting. “We’ll increase our spending, and then in 10 years from now, we’ll be having to come back [to ask for another increase].”
The remaining council members were largely supportive of putting Measure B on the ballot, noting that the funds would go directly to the city and there would also be built-in oversight.
“We are one of the last few cities that have not increased it, and I think it’s only going to benefit our community,” Mayor Michael Vargas said at the February 24 meeting. “And having the oversight also will be [showing] what we do with the funds.”
If approved by a majority of voters, the sales tax would go into effect around October and stay in place until repealed by voters. It would not apply to food purchased as groceries, prescription medication, medical and dental services, real estate, rent and personal services, according to the city.
The money, which the city could start to collect in January, would go directly to the general fund where city staff said it could be used for any lawful governmental purpose as approved by the council, including to support public safety and emergency response, streets, roads and infrastructure and the long-term financial stability of the city.
More information about Measure B can be found here on the city’s website.
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