The Tulare City Council adopted a resolution to place a proposed one-cent sales tax increase on the Nov. 3 election ballot at its June 2 meeting.
Funds from the tax increase would go to the city’s general services, such as maintaining 911 emergency, fire, paramedic, and police response; preventing crime and gang activity; recruiting and retaining police, firefighters, and paramedics; keeping public areas and parks clean and safe; repairing roads and potholes; addressing homelessness; protecting local drinking water sources; and retaining and attracting local businesses.
“The people of Tulare want a safe and affordable city to call home,” Tulare Mayor Patrick Isherwood said. “This measure helps us get there. This measure would fund more cops, fix more potholes, keep parks safe for our kids, and get us to the level of services the residents of Tulare expect and desire.”
If approved, shoppers would be taxed 9.25 cents for every taxable dollar spent in Tulare. They currently pay 8.25 cents.
California receives 6 cents of the 8.25-cent sales tax collected in Tulare, Tulare County receives 0.25 cents, and the city of Tulare gets 2 cents. The proposed tax increase would raise the city’s share to 3 cents.
Neither the current nor proposed sales tax applies to “essential items” such as groceries, prescription medications or rent.
Tulare’s current sales tax rate is one of the lowest among the incorporated cities in Tulare County. Sales tax rates in Visalia, Exeter, Dinuba, Farmersville, Lindsay and Woodlake are currently higher than Tulare’s rate.
The city estimates “for the average Tulare household, the proposed 1-cent increase would add approximately $1.70 per day to the cost,” and the result would be, “approximately $16 million in annual revenue for the City of Tulare.”
The city reports that despite implementing cost-saving measures, “including delaying capital projects and deferring facility maintenance… the city is projected to face a structural deficit in the next five years.” The city’s sales tax revenue, its primary source of income, is projected to decrease by 3.5% in fiscal year 2026 to $22.3 million, from $23.1 million in fiscal year 2025.
“Placing this measure on the ballot gives Tulare voters the opportunity to consider a local funding source for city services,” Tulare City Manager Marc Mondell said. “Our role is to provide clear, factual information about what the measure would do, how much revenue it is estimated to generate, and how residents can review the details before casting a ballot.”
The city of Tulare has posted information about the sales tax proposal on its website.
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This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Sales tax increase on Tulare’s November ballot
Reporting by Steve Pastis, Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Steve Pastis, Visalia Times-Delta | USA TODAY Network
