Agenda Item No: L.6
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: December 16, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: David Gassaway, City Manager
SUBJECT: CM Survey Results on General Purpose Sales Tax
Survey Results Regarding a Potential Fairfield General Purpose Transaction and Use Tax (Sales Tax) Increase
Funding Source: N/A
Contact: Farbod Pirouzmand, (707) 428-7397
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive report, open discussion, and provide direction to staff.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
At the September 16, 2025, City Council meeting, staff were directed to enter into a contract with Probolsky Research to conduct a survey of Fairfield voters regarding a ballot measure to raise the General Purpose Transactions and Use Tax (Sales Tax) by one cent. Staff request that the council receive a report from the consultant on the results of the voter survey and provide direction on whether to place such a tax measure on the November 2026 general election ballot.
DISCUSSION
The council directed staff to enter into a contract with Probolsky Research to conduct a survey of eligible Fairfield voters to gather feedback from residents on their views of City services and their support for a one-cent increase in the General Purpose Transaction s and Use Tax, more colloquially known as the “sales tax.”
The consultants received 400 complete responses to their survey, which is statistically representative of eligible voters’ view of local government and their support or lack thereof for a one-cent increase to the city’s sales tax. Fairfield currently has the second lowest sales tax in the county at 8.375%.
Probolsky Research has created a summary presentation for the Council to review the results of their findings.
Here are some of the highlights of the presentation. Fairfield voters shared their top three concerns in the survey, which are as follows:
1. Homelessness and the City’s response
2. Public Safety/Crime in the City
3. Controlling Growth and Development within the City
Voters also shared their general level of sati sfaction with Fire, Police, Parks & Recreation, and Public Works services provided to the community. They are supportive of a tax measure that will be used for local services and that includes a citizen oversight committee to review the spending on such programs. The current Measure P committee will continue as th e oversight committee to ensure tax revenue is spent as intended by Fairfield voters.
As part of their survey, the consultants also asked Fairfield voters if they would support changing the City Clerk’s and the Treasurer’s Offices from being elected by the public to being appointed by City Council. The city has grown significantly in recent decades, and the complexity and volume of the council’s agenda demand a professional city clerk to help the council with its agenda management. Similarly, the complexity of city finances requires a finance professional to be appointed as the City’s Treasurer and perform this office’s duties and carry out its responsibilities.
Probolsky Research will also present information on voters’ views regarding the council appointing professionals to the above functions or continuing with elections to decide who will be Fairfield’s city clerk and treasurer.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION
N/A
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
The council may direct staff not to move forward with placing a measure for a one-cent sales tax increase on the November 2026 general election ballot and may direct staff to perform further analysis or solicit additional voter sentiment.
COORDINATED WITH
City Attorney’s Office
STAFF CONTACT
Farbod Pirouzmand, Assistant City Manager
(707) 428-7397
[email protected]
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 2: Probolsky Research Executive Summary of Voter Survey Results