ORDINANCE 2026-785
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORTUNA
TO INCREASE THE EXISTING CITY OF FORTUNA TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX TO BE
ADMINISTERED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND FEE
ADMINISTRATION, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORS
VOTING ON THE TAX MEASURE AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Revenue and Taxation Code § 7285.9, the City of Fortuna ("City") has the authority to levy a local transactions and use tax for general purposes ("TUT'); and WHEREAS, at the General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, the qualified voters of the City of Fortuna approved Measure E, which imposed a three-quarters cent TUT for an eight (8) year period through and including March 31, 2025, to ensure a reliable, locally-controlled source of funds to address, plan, and prepare for community priorities including increasing police protection services; maintaining 9- 1-1 response; nuisance abatement; repairing and maintaining streets, sidewalks, and drainage; maintaining parks; maintaining programs for youth and seniors; and maintaining other essential services; and WHEREAS, at the General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, the qualified voters of the City of Fortuna approved Measure G, which extended the sales tax through March 31, 2033; and WHEREAS, the revenues derived from Measure E are essential to maintain essential city services; however, due to rising costs and inflationary pressures, the revenues derived from Measure E are insufficient to continue to maintain the programs and services funded by Measure E; and WHEREAS, over the past several years, the City has seen a decrease in sales tax and transient occupancy tax and an increase in costs totaling $1.9 million, and WHEREAS, because of decreased revenues and rising costs the City has implemented a hiring freeze and the use of general reserves and discretionary service reductions; and WHEREAS, funds from this Measure will help maintain essential services in the City such as protecting public safety; increasing and restoring police officers; repairing aging/deteriorating streets and potholes; providing programs for seniors and youth; and keeping parks clean and safe; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to propose to the qualified voters of the City of Fortuna an ordinance to increase the TUT with all revenues continuing to be subject to an independent audit and overseen by a community oversight committee.
NOW, THEREFORE, the People of the City of Fortuna do ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. APPROVAL OF TAX INCREASE. The qualified votes of the City of Fortuna hereby approve and adopt an ordinance increasing the currently imposed transaction and use tax rate, as codified in Chapter 3.13 of Title 3 of the Fortuna Municipal Code, from 3/4-cent per dollar to a rate not to exceed
1.5-cent per dollar, effective April 1, 2027, and continuing thereafter until repealed by the voters or rescinded by four-fifths vote of the City Council.
SECTION 2. AMENDMENT TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE. Section 3.13.050 of Chapter 3.13 of Title 3 of the Fortuna Municipal Code is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety as follows:
3.13.050 Transactions tax rate.
A. For the privilege of selling tangible personal property at retail, a tax is hereby imposed upon all retailers in the incorporated territory of the city at the rate of ¾-cent (0.75 percent) per dollar of the gross receipts of any retailer from the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail in said territory on and after the operative date of this chapter.
B. Effective April 1, 2027, and continuing thereafter, until repealed by the voters or rescinded by the City Council, the rate of ¾-cent (0.75 percent) per dollar of the gross receipts set forth above in subdivision A of this Section 3.13.050 shall be increased to a rate of 1.5-cents (1.5 percent) per dollar of the gross receipts of any retailer from the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail in said territory or a lesser rate (in oneeight increments) as approved by resolution of the City Council. The increased transaction tax rate of 1.5-cent (1.5 percent) shall be authorized and effective commencing on April 1, 2027, and shall continue thereafter until terminated in accordance with this Chapter.
SECTION 3. AMENDMENT TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE. Section 3.13.070 of Chapter 3.13 of Title 3 of the Fortuna Municipal Code is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety as follows:
3.13.070 Use tax rate.
A. An excise tax is hereby imposed on the storage, use or other consumption in the city of tangible personal property purchased from any retailer on and after the operative date of this chapter for storage, use or other consumption in said territory at the rate of 0.75 percent per dollar of the sales price of the property. The sales price shall include delivery charges when such charges are subject to state sales or use tax regardless of the place to which delivery is made.
B. Effective April 1, 2027, and continuing thereafter until repealed by the voters or rescinded by the City Council, the rate of ¾-cent (0.75 percent) per dollar of the sales price set forth in subdivision A of this Section 3.13.070 shall be increased to 1.5-cents (1.5 percent) per dollar of the sales price of the property or a lesser rate (in one-eight increments) as approved by resolution of the City Council. The increased use tax rate of
1.5-cent (1.5 percent) shall be authorized and effective commencing on April 1, 2027, and shall continue thereafter until terminated in accordance with this Chapter.
SECTION 4. AMENDMENT TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE. Section 3.13.200 of Chapter 3.13 of Title 3 of the Fortuna Municipal Code is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety as follows:
3.13.200 Termination of Tax
The authority to levy the tax imposed by this chapter shall continue until repealed by the city council or by the voters.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance relates to the levying and collecting of the City transactions and use taxes and shall take effect only if approved by a majority of the voters voting on the measure at the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election and shall become effective ten (10) days after the City Council declares and certifies by resolution the results of the election and that the measure was approved by a majority of the voters voting thereon.
SECTION 6. CERTIFICATION AND PUBLICATION. Upon approval by the voters, the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this ordinance and shall cause it to be published according to law and transmitted to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
SECTION 7. COMPLIANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT. The approval of this Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000 et seq., “CEQA,” and 14 Cal. Code Reg. §§ 15000 et seq., “CEQA Guidelines”). The transactions and use tax enacted by this Ordinance is a general tax that can be used for any legitimate governmental purpose; it is not a commitment to any particular action. As such, under CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4), the tax is not a project within the meaning of CEQA because it creates a government funding mechanism that does not involve any commitment to any specific project that may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. If revenue from the tax were used for a purpose that would have either such effect, the city would undertake the required CEQA review for that particular project. Therefore, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15060 CEQA analysis is not required.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Fortuna on the 20th day of April 2026, by at least a two-thirds vote of the City Council, as follows:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
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Mike Johnson, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Siana L. Emmons, City Clerk
Approved As To Form:
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Ryan T. Plotz, City Attorney