RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SALINAS, CALIFORNIA CALLING THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 TO ASK THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF SALINAS TO APPROVE, RESTATE AND AMEND AN ORDINANCE ENACTING A GENERAL TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX OF ONE CENT TO REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL ENDED BY THE VOTERS, WITH THE USE OF THE TAX REVENUE TO BE REVIEWED AND REPORTED ON BY A CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE; AND REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF MONTEREY TO CONSOLIDATE THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION WITH THE ESTABLISHED ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE DATE PURSUANT TO §10403 OF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE ON THE CITY’S BEHALF
RECITALS
WHEREAS, in 2014, the voters of Salinas voted to approve a general transactions and use tax in the amount of one cent for each dollar spent. The tax is named the “Salinas Transactions and Use Tax for a Safer, Better Salinas” and was designated in the 2014 general election as “Measure G”; and WHEREAS, Measure G was strongly supported by the voters of Salinas, with 62.41% voting in favor of it and only 37.59% voting against it; and WHEREAS, for the last ten years, the one cent general transaction and use tax has been a critical source of funding for many of the City’s most important and popular services including crime prevention, public safety, economic development, and street and sidewalk repairs; and WHEREAS, the current general transaction and use tax will expire and stop producing revenues that fund these critical services unless it is extended by the voters of the City; and WHEREAS, no amount of budget cuts, fiscal austerity measures or potential grants from the State or Federal government could replace the general transaction and use tax revenues from Measure G without severe impacts to critical City services; and WHEREAS, on March 24, 2026, the results from a public research survey of Salinas voters’ opinions on the existing tax and whether or not they support extending it was presented to the City Council; and WHEREAS, the survey found that overall, 81% of those polled rate the quality of life in Salinas as good or fair and community’s top concerns are maintaining streets and sidewalks, responding to homelessness, and planning for housing availability and affordability. The results demonstrated support from the community to renew Measure G. The results of the survey show that community continues to support a one cent transactions and use tax to fund the critical priorities for a safer, healthier, better Salinas; and WHEREAS, the City Council held a noticed public hearing on May 12, 2026, to consider calling a municipal election to seek voter approval of a proposed extension of the one cent general transactions and use tax (or “sales tax”), as authorized by Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.9; and WHEREAS, at the conclusion of that hearing, the City Council concluded that the Council should call an election to ask the voters of the City to approve an extension and amendment of the existing local transactions and use tax until it is ended by the voters, the revenue from which would be used to support general municipal services. The City’s General Municipal Election is scheduled for November 3, 2026; and WHEREAS, the tax extension and amendment to be submitted to the voters, if approved, would be imposed on retail transactions involving and use of personal property. The tax rate would be one percent (1.0%) of the value of the property. The tax revenue would be collected by the State Board of Equalization and remitted to the City. The tax would continue until repealed or amended by the voters. A committee composed of members of the public would review and report on use of the revenue from the tax. The tax shall be approved if the measure receives at least a majority of affirmative votes; and WHEREAS, at the November 4, 2014 election, the voters of the City approved Measure G, a transactions and use tax to be in effect for fifteen years and to sunset in 2030 unless amended by the voters. Measure G was codified as Article VIII of Chapter 32 of the Salinas Municipal Code. The ordinance restates and amends Article VIII of Chapter 32 to extend the existing tax until repealed or amended by the voters of the City.
WHEREAS, Elections Code Section 9282 sets forth the procedures for arguments in favor of or in opposition of any City measure; and WHEREAS, Elections Code Section 9285 sets forth the procedures for rebuttal arguments; and WHEREAS, based on all of the information presented at the May 12, 2026, meeting, both written and oral, including the staff reports, minutes, and other relevant materials, the City Council finds that under CEQA Guidelines 15060(c)(2) and 15378 subdivisions (2) and (4) of subdivision (b), this action does not constitute a project under CEQA and therefore review under CEQA is not required.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ORDERED that the governing body of the City of Salinas hereby orders an election be called and consolidated with any and all elections also called to be held on November 3, 2026 insofar as said elections are to be held in the same territory or in territory that is in part the same as the territory of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Monterey to order such consolidation under Elections Code Section 10401 and 10403.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that pursuant to Elections Code Section 10002 said governing body hereby requests the Board of Supervisors to permit the County of Monterey Department of Elections to provide any and all services necessary for conducting the election and agrees to pay for said services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that pursuant to the requirements of California Elections Code section 10403, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Monterey is hereby requested to consent and agree to the consolidation of a General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election for the purpose of submitting a rested and amended ordinance enacting a General transactions and use tax of one cent to remain in effect until ended by the voters with the use of the tax revenue to be reviewed and reported on by a citizens oversight committee.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF SALINAS as follows:
SECTION I. DECLARATION OF FINDINGS.
The foregoing Recitals are true and correct and are hereby adopted by the City Council. Current City revenues are not sufficient to maintain the current levels of critical City services without extension of the existing one cent sales tax. The City of Salinas has determined that a measure to extend the existing local sales tax at a rate of one cent shall be submitted to the voters for approval at a future municipal election, and the next statewide general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
SECTION II. ELECTION CALLED.
Pursuant to California Constitution Article XIIIC, Section 2; Government Code Section 53724; Elections Code Section 9222; and the Charter of the City of Salinas, the City Council of the City of Salinas hereby calls an election at which it shall submit to the qualified voters of the City, a measure that, if approved, would impose a 1.0% general transactions and use tax, as authorized by Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.9. This measure shall be designated by letter by the Monterey County Elections Department. Pursuant to Election Code Section 10400 et seq., the election for this measure shall be consolidated with the established election to be conducted on November 3, 2026.
SECTION III. APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE.
Included in Exhibit A is an ordinance, authorizing the general tax to be approved by the voters pursuant to Section II. The City Council hereby approves the ordinance, the form thereof, and its submission to the voters of the City at the November 3, 2026 election, as required by Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.9, subject to the approval of a majority of the voters voting on the measure at the election called by the adoption of this resolution.
The entire text of the ordinance attached hereto as Exhibit A shall be printed in the voter information portion of the sample ballot. The ordinance authorizing the general transactions and use tax specifies that the rate of the transactions tax shall be one percent (1.0%) of the gross receipts of any retailer from the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail in the City; it specifies that the total rate of the use tax shall be one percent (1.0%) of the sales price of tangible personal property stored, used or otherwise consumed in the City. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration shall collect the tax from retailers subject to the tax and remit the funds to the City.
SECTION IV. MEASURE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS.
The proposed transactions and use tax ordinances shall be submitted to the voters on the ballot in the form of the following question:
“Without raising taxes, shall the City of Salinas renew Measure G maintaining the existing 1¢ local sales tax providing approximately $30,000,000 annually until ended by the voters to continue funding street and sidewalk repairs and other long-term infrastructure projects, parks, youth and senior programs, police, fire, and emergency response, homeless reduction, and other general city services, with independent citizen oversight, annual audits, and all funds dedicated to and remaining in Salinas?” SECTION V. BALLOT FORMAT.
The official ballot to be used at said election shall conform to the provisions of the Charter of said City and the laws of the State of California with relation thereto.
SECTION VI. IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS.
The City Attorney shall prepare an impartial analysis of the ballot measure not to exceed five hundred words in length showing the effect of the measure on the existing law and the operation of the measure pursuant to Elections Code Section 9280 which shall be filed no later than August 13, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
SECTION VII. BALLOT ARGUMENTS.
The deadline for filing arguments for the ballot measure with the City Clerk shall be August 13, 2026, and the argument shall not exceed 300 words in length. Rebuttal arguments shall be filed with the City Clerk by August 20, 2026, and shall not exceed 250 words in length. Pursuant to Section 9282 of the California Elections Code, the Mayor is hereby authorized to prepare and file a written argument in favor of the proposed ordinance, not to exceed 300 words, on behalf of the City Council. At the Mayor’s discretion, the argument may be signed by up to five representatives of bona fide associations or individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure. When the City Clerk has selected the arguments for and against the measure, which will be printed and distributed to the voters, the City Clerk shall send copies of the argument in favor of the measure to the authors of the argument against, and copies of the argument against to the authors of the argument in favor. In the event that an argument is filed against the measure, the Mayor is also authorized to prepare and file a rebuttal argument, not to exceed 250 words, on behalf of the City Council, which may be signed by up to five representatives of bona fide association of citizens or individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure or a combination of voters and associations. Rebuttal arguments shall be printed in the same manner as the primary arguments. Each rebuttal argument shall immediately follow the primary argument, which it seeks to rebut.
SECTION VIII. REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION OF ELECTIONS.
The City authorizes the County of Monterey Registrar of Voters to consolidate this election with tany other election to be held on November 3, 2026, for the convenience of the registered voters and to take advantage of any cost savings possible by such consolidation.
SECTION IX. ASSISTANCE OF COUNTY OF MONTEREY ELECTION DEPARTMENT TO THE CITY CLERK.
The City Clerk may request the assistance of the County of Monterey Election Department in regard to said General Municipal Election, as the City Clerk deems necessary, and the City shall pay the incurred cost of such assistance.
SECTION X. NOTICE OF THE MEASURE.
In accordance with Section 12111 of the Elections Code and Section 6061 of the Government Code, the County of Monterey Department of Elections is hereby authorized and directed to cause notice of the measure to be published as provided by law for holding of the municipal election, which said notices shall be published in an adjudicated newspaper in the City of Salinas and hereby designated for that purpose.
SECTION XI. CONDUCT OF THE ELECTION.
The election on the measure set forth in Section III shall be held and conducted, the votes canvassed and the returns made, and the results ascertained and determined as provided for herein. In all particulars not prescribed in this resolution, the election shall be held as prescribed in the Charter of the City. In all particulars not provided for in the Charter, the election shall be held in accordance with the Elections Code of the State of California. The County of Monterey Registrar of Voters is authorized to canvas the returns of that election with respect to the votes cast in the City of Salinas and certify the results to the City Council in accordance with Elections Code section 15372. At the next regular meeting of the City Council occurring after the returns of the election have been canvassed and the certification of the results to the City Council, the City Council shall cause to be entered in its minutes a statement of the results of the election.
SECTION XII. CITY MANAGER AUTHORIZATION.
The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to expend the necessary funds to pay for the City’s cost of placing the measure on the election ballot.
SECTION XIII. MINUTES AND RECORD.
This Resolution shall be forthwith entered upon the minutes of this Council and kept and maintained by the City Clerk of Salinas, as provided in Section 11.9 of the Charter of said City.
SECTION XIV. NOTICE.
The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to certify to the due adoption of this Resolution and to promptly transmit a copy hereof so certified to the Board of Supervisors and the Registrar of Voters of Monterey County, and to give notice of the election as required by law.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 2nd day of June 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED:
Dennis Donohue, Mayor
ATTEST:
Patricia M. Soratos, City Clerk
Alexis Mejia, Assistant City Clerk
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