City of Gonzales
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: February 17, 2026
FROM: Carmen Gil, City Manager
THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2026-04 Submitting to the Voters at the General Municipal Election to be Consolidated with the Statewide General Election Held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, a Measure that Would Implement a Special Parcel Tax to be Levied on Properties Within the City Based on Land Use to Fund Fire and Emergency Medical Services to be Provided in the City of Gonzales
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-04, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Submitting to the Voters at the General Municipal Election to be Consolidated with the Statewide General Election Held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, a Measure That Would Implement a Special Parcel Tax to be Levied on Properties Within the City Based on Land Use to Fund Fire and Emergency Medical Services to be Provided in the City of Gonzales.
BACKGROUND
In years past, the Gonzales Fire Department (GFD) was run by a team of volunteers. With recent updates to accreditation and more rigorous requirements for personnel, the volunteer system was no longer viable for the City. In 2020, to keep our Fire Department fully functional with fire and emergency medical staff, the City had to bring on personnel as full-time staff. This ensured that critical service continued to be available. However, the costs to add six additional firefighters was never offset by any “new” revenue and instead has continued to deplete the general fund while emergency calls and operating costs continue to rise.
In 2025, call volumes hit 870 calls averaging 3 calls for emergency services a day. The department has also struggled to keep up with equipment needs, making replacements almost impossible. It took 14 years to finally acquire the funds to purchase a new fire engine, and it was only made possible through the support of the County’s CDBG funds.
AGENDA
ITEM
18 The City and the department cannot continue to operate this way. Financial sustainability is needed to ensure that we retain qualified medical and fire safety staff, especially given the City’s proximity to emergency departments/services.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
Despite the City’s prudent and fiscally responsible funding efforts, the City cannot continue to operate a fully functioning department that already depends on the bare minimum staffing level of two firefighters around the clock. The City has pursued other funding efforts to no avail, and it finds itself in dire need of financial resources to maintain the department’s operations. In 2025, after looking at its funding options, the City engaged a consultant to determine whether the public would support a parcel tax similar to the tax that had been adopted in Greenfield to finance fire and emergency medical services.
Based on the results of surveys and comments received from the public on related informational materials, staff has now prepared Resolution No. 2026-04 calling for a local municipal election to be consolidated with the statewide general election on June 2, 2026, at which a ballot measure establishing a new parcel tax in the City of Gonzales would be considered by the City’s voters.
Resolution No. 2026-04, prepared in accordance with relevant provisions of the California Constitution, Government Code and Elections Code, contains a copy of the proposed tax ordinance which would levy a new annual tax on parcels of property in the City at a rate of $349.00/single family unit, $262.00/multiunit, and $148.00-$201.00 plus $.07 per square foot for non-residential parcels, all adjusted annually. It is estimated that the new parcel tax would provide approximately $665,000 in revenue per year. All tax revenues collected by application of the new parcel tax would be used exclusively for 911 emergency medical/fire response, subject to independent audit and City oversight. The new tax would remain in place until ended by the voters.
In adopting Resolution No. 2026-04, the City Council would approve the content and form of the proposed parcel tax ordinance and its submission to the voters of the City at the June 2, 2026 consolidated Statewide election. (In placing the ordinance on the ballot, the City does not follow the usual first and second reading process used for council ordinance adoption.) Because the parcel tax is for a single purpose, it is by law considered a special tax and would require the approval of a two-thirds majority of the voters voting on the measure at the election. All tax revenues collected by application of the new parcel tax would be used exclusively for 911 emergency medical/fire response, such as the purchase of much needed equipment, subject to independent audit and City oversight. The new parcel tax would remain in place until ended by the voters.
Resolution No. 2026-04 also approves, authorizes and/or directs compliance with a number of other matters related to the proposed election, such as the City Attorney’s preparation of an impartial analysis of the tax measure, identification of the parties authorized to prepare ballot arguments and rebuttals by specified dates and the process for acceptance of the same, and various noticing and publication requirements. Additionally, the resolution contains the language of the official question that will appear on the ballot, prepared in accordance with legal requirements, which reads as follows:
To ensure fire/emergency medical 911 response, including 24-hour staffing, updated lifesaving equipment/training, and disaster preparedness, shall the City of Gonzales’ measure, levying an annual parcel tax of $349.00/single family unit, $262.00/multi-unit, $148-$201 plus $.07 per building square foot for non-residential parcels, adjusted annually, providing approximately $665,000 per year until ended by voters, with funds dedicated exclusively to reliable 911 emergency medical/fire response and requiring local control/oversight, be adopted? Without a sustained source of additional revenue, the City will be unable to continue to operate the Fire Department as it is today. We already have a tough time keeping firefighters on staff as we are constantly competing with neighboring cities for personnel due to competing higher wages, benefit packages and specialties offered.
Explain Recommendation and How it Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small-town charm.
Explain: To ensure that the City of Gonzales continues to have qualified Firefighters/EMTs to continue to provide fire and emergency medical services, the City needs to consider adoption of a parcel tax measure in June of 2026 that can generate the much-needed funding to help sustain the local Fire Department.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment, and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community.
Explain: The parcel tax will support the City Council’s vision of providing quality emergency and medical care for the residents of Gonzales.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful, and friendly manner to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Explain: See Vision statement above.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety X Yes No N/A
• Housing Yes No N/A
• Recreation Yes No N/A
• Environment X Yes No N/A
• Education Yes No N/A
Explain: See Vision statement above.
ALTERNATIVES
The City Council could choose not to place the Parcel Tax Measure on the ballot in June 2026. However, if the Council decides not to do so, the City will have to seek other alternatives to continue funding the Fire Department and/or staff will have to look at creative ways to provide the services currently offered by the Fire Department. Services and response times would be gravely impacted if this was to occur.
BUDGET IMPACT
If the Parcel Tax were to pass, the City would generate an additional $665,000 per year to help fund the Gonzales Fire Department and its operations.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-04, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Submitting to the Voters at the General Municipal Election to be Consolidated with the Statewide General Election Held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, a Measure That Would Implement a Special Parcel Tax to be Levied on Properties Within the City Based on Land Use to Fund Fire and Emergency Medical Services to be Provided in the City of Gonzales.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2026-04 with Exhibits A & B