STAFF REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
FOR MEETING: Jun 09 2026
SUBJECT: Receive Report Outlining Polling Results, Review Ballot Measure Language and Resolution, and Other Considerations Related to a Local Sales Tax Ballot Measure.
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council receive this report on community engagement and public opinion research on a potential 1% sales tax measure for the City of Twentynine Palms and provide direction for returning for legislative action on June 23, 2026.
ORDER OF PROCEDURE:
Request Staff Report (City Manager presenting)
Council Question of Staff
Request Public Comment
Council Discussion
Motion/Second
Discussion of Motion
Call the Question
ATTACHMENTS:
• FACT Sheet
• FAQ Sheet
• Mailer
BACKGROUND:
The City is facing a severe and increasing structural deficit, meaning that expenses have and will continue to grow faster than revenues. As costs continue to rise, cities must identify new sources of revenue to prevent reducing the number and quality of city services. Within the last five years, the Town of Yucca Valley, cities of Palm Desert, Indio, and Cathedral City have passed sales tax measures. These measures have been vital in helping cities keep up with rising costs, maintain current levels of service, and in some cases enabling the City to afford new services to meet resident needs. Without these tax measures, cities may be forced to reduce or eliminate key quality-of-life services.
Despite significant efforts to improve economic conditions within the City of Twentynine Palms, City revenues have remained flat and are projected to either remain flat or slightly decline. Flat or declining revenues are not unique to Twentynine Palms but are rather symptomatic throughout the State. Despite consistent efforts to “tighten the belt”, operating expenses continue to increase. Staff believes a 1% sales tax measure is something the City Council must consider as a possible means to maintain or improve core city services such as road maintenance, parks, law enforcement, fund animal shelter operations and overall City services.
To assist the City Council and Staff in understanding community needs and preferences, during the October 14, 2025, City Council meeting, Staff recommended and City Council approved engaging Probolsky Research to conduct a scientific community survey. Following the October 14th City Council meeting, Staff began working with Page 287 of 294 Probolsky Research to create and implement the needed survey. On Saturday, January 17, 2026, Probolsky Research finished the requested community survey.
During the October 14th and December 9th City Council meetings, Staff also discussed the vital role outreach consultants have in helping the City understand community needs and assist City Council/Staff in gathering and addressing questions. Based on the positive survey results, the City Council authorized engagement of Clifford Moss to further the outreach effort. Here is a synopsis of what has been accomplished to date.
Starting in 2023, the City of Twentynine Palms conducted two scientific surveys to gather community input from residents about key issues, City priorities, and possible future funding considerations.
Additionally, the City conducted extensive outreach through one-on-one conversations and started a comprehensive and multi-channel engagement strategy. In March 2026, a citywide mailer was sent to over 5,000 Twentynine Palms voter households, which included an invitation to a community survey and a QR code linking to a dedicated webpage with an opportunity to receive additional information and provide input about the City's priorities. The survey generated 682 responses, including 542 written comments, providing valuable insight into what matters most to residents. The survey was also promoted through ad placements on META/Facebook, with four published video advertisements and nine customized static advertisements. These digital efforts achieved a total of 184,000 impressions, 13,455 clicks, with a click-through rate of 7.31%, along with 41,726 post engagements. Following that first mailer, a second mailer was sent to residents reporting back what was heard in the survey and outlining the next steps. This work was conducted to help guide and inform the City Council's decision on whether to move forward with potential 2026 revenue measure.
Next Steps:
The purpose of this item is to receive the report, review the proposed Resolution and ballot language, discuss any outstanding questions or concerns, schedule, and next steps.
Staff will receive input from the City Council on the information presented at this meeting. Then at the June 23, 2026, City Council meeting, Staff will present the final ballot language and Resolution for the City Council's final consideration and action.
ENVIRONMENTAL:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
There will be election costs associated with the placement of the measure on the November 2026 ballot. Actual costs will depend on factors such as the number of pages that need to be printed (ballot length), the quantity of guides/ballots to be printed, notices, and translation services.
Background: It is the City of Twentynine Palms' responsibility to provide public services and facilities that maintain and protect our community's quality of life. City employees work hard every day to provide the services that residents tell us they value most: maintaining streets and sidewalks, public safety and police patrols, rapid response in 911 emergencies, keeping parks and trails healthy, safe, effective animal control and shelter services, and much more.
The City of Twentynine Palms strives to use resources wisely. We are committed to serving our community in a fiscally responsible manner and have been proactive in planning and controlling costs. The City continues to be strategic to ensure continuity of the most critical services and programs valued by our community.
Current Status: Since 1987, the City of Twentynine Palms, without a sales tax, and without creating an extra burden on our community, has accomplished the following:
• Despite having a mere 5-person road crew, the City’s Public Works Department quickly and cost-effectively cleared 170 miles of roads following multiple major flooding events, and maintain a pavement condition index 20% above the average of all Coachella Valley cities.
• Added a second Sheriff detective to improve timeliness and success of criminal prosecutions. • Paws n Palms Shelter’s save rate is nearly 3x higher than the national average, despite operating out of an inadequate facility.
• Our six-member Parks and Recreation Department serves 1,200 youth annually across three separate parks.
Even with fiscally prudent practices, the City has identified several needs that must be addressed to maintain and protect the City’s standard of living. Engaging our community and LISTENING are essential to reaching community consensus on the best way forward, before important decisions are made. As always, our goal is to plan proactively and navigate strategically to address community needs responsibly and with your support.
The City's top service priorities include:
• REPAIRING AND MAINTAINING city streets
• PROVIDING effective public safety, police officers, patrols, and rapid 911 response times • PREPARING the City for emergencies (including flooding, fire, earthquakes, and traffic accidents) • PRESERVING parks, trails, and open spaces
• MAINTAINING animal control services and ensuring the animal shelter meets basic health and safety standards To protect Twentynine Palms' quality of life, one option currently being discussed is a modest 1% sales tax, providing approximately $2 million annually until ended by voters; a step that would require local voter support to go into effect.
Twentynine Palms is one of the few communities in the region without a local sales tax. While this has worked for our city in the past, our funding needs have increased. By law, the State could not take these funds away or use them for other purposes. NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE YET.
Visitors pay their fair share. Visitors and tourists would pay a large percentage of the proposed sales tax generated in Twentynine Palms, meaning non-residents help pay to maintain our streets, police, and other services. Passing a local sales tax measure keeps revenue local; instead of funding other cities, the dollars you already spend would stay in Twentynine Palms to maintain our roads, support public safety, and improve local services.
This measure is designed to protect local families. Groceries and prescription medications would be exempt, ensuring the tax does not apply to essentials. This means residents can support needed improvements to City services without increasing the cost of basic necessities, keeping the impact low while delivering important benefits for the community.
Taxpayer protections would be required by the measure. All funds raised by the potential measure we're exploring would go to the City's General Fund to be used for Twentynine Palms city services and facilities. Any funds generated would stay locally controlled in the City of Twentynine Palms. The measure will require oversight, independent financial audits, and yearly reports to the community to ensure the funds are spent as promised.
Currently, the City of Twentynine Palms is taking deliberate steps to reach out and LISTEN to our community. No final decisions have been made yet on this issue. For more information, visit www.ci.twentynine-palms.ca.us/ or contact [email protected].
City of Twentynine Palms
2026 City Budget Community Conversation
FACT SHEET
City of Twentynine Palms
2026 City Budget Community Conversation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is the City reaching out to me? What is this City project all about? It is the City of Twentynine Palms' responsibility to provide public services and facilities that maintain and protect our community's quality of life. City employees work hard every day to provide the services that residents tell us they value most: maintaining streets and sidewalks, public safety and police patrols, rapid response in 911 emergencies, keeping parks and trails healthy, safe, effective animal control and shelter services, and much more.
The City of Twentynine Palms strives to use resources wisely. We are committed to serving our community in a fiscally responsible manner. To protect the local quality of life, we have been proactive in planning and controlling costs. The City continues to be strategic to ensure continuity of the most critical services and programs valued by our community.
Even with fiscally prudent practices, the City has identified several needs that must be addressed to maintain and protect the City’s standard of living. Engaging our community and LISTENING are essential to reaching community consensus on the best way forward, before important decisions are made. As always, our goal is to plan proactively and navigate strategically to address community needs responsibly and with your support.
What are the City’s top priorities?
• REPAIRING AND MAINTAINING city streets
• PROVIDING effective public safety, police officers, patrols, and rapid 911 response times • PREPARING the City for emergencies (including flooding, fire, earthquakes, and traffic accidents) • MAINTAINING parks, trails, and open spaces
• MAINTAINING animal control services and ensuring the animal shelter meets basic health and safety standards
What is the City doing to manage its finances responsibly? Our City has a proud history of financial prudence. Every day, we focus City resources on providing direct services to Twentynine Palms residents and community members in a sensible and responsible manner.
We have been proactive in planning and controlling costs to ensure continuity of the most critical services and programs valued by our community.
Since 1987, the City of Twentynine Palms, without a sales tax, and without creating an extra burden on our community, the City has accomplished:
• Despite having a mere 5-person road crew, the City’s Public Works Department quickly and costeffectively cleared 170 miles of roads following multiple major flooding events, and maintain a pavement condition index 20% above the average of all Coachella Valley cities. • Added a second Sheriff detective to improve timeliness and success of criminal prosecutions. • Paws n Palms Shelter’s save rate is nearly 3x higher than the national average, despite operating out of an inadequate facility.
• Our six-member Parks and Recreation Department serves 1,200 youth annually across three separate parks.
Why does the City need more funding?
The City's General Fund Budget provides funding for City services, programs, and facilities. Despite our fiscally prudent practices and proactive cost control efforts, the strain on vital city services is growing as ongoing expenses outside of the City’s control continue to outpace available resources.
For example, the City of Twentynine Palms relies on the San Bernadino County Sherriff’s Department for public safety services, like neighborhood police patrols and emergency response. Law enforcement represents the largest expense in the City’s budget, and has continued to increase over time. This year, the cost of the contract with the Sherriff’s Department will be increased by 10%. Additional funding is essential to sustain our current City services and protect Twentynine Palms' quality of life.
How has the City involved the community in this effort? To help protect vital City services and Twentynine Palms' quality of life, City leaders have been evaluating all possible options for generating the additional revenue needed to address identified needs. No decisions have been made yet. The City is currently elevating the public conversation by conducting a Community Listening Initiative to actively seek input that can inform community consensus and future City decision-making. In April, the City sent out a community survey mailer to Twentynine Palms residents to hear directly about what matters most to them. In May, the City sent a follow-up mailer reporting results and explaining next steps—click here to view the follow-up.
What possible solutions have been identified?
To protect Twentynine Palms' quality of life, one option currently being discussed is a modest 1% sales tax, providing approximately $2 million annually until ended by voters; a step that would require local voter support to go into effect.
Twentynine Palms is one of the few communities in the region without a local sales tax. While this has worked for our city in the past, our funding needs have increased. By law, the State could not take these funds away or use them for other purposes. NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE YET.
How much additional funding would a 1% sales tax generate for the City? A 1% sales tax would raise approximately $2 million per year for City services. ALL funds generated by a local sales tax would be locally controlled, subject to annual public review, and would stay in Twentynine Palms to provide essential city services and facility improvements. By law, the State could not take this funding away or use it for other purposes.
What would a sales tax apply to? What’s taxed and what isn’t? A local sales tax would apply to the same goods and services subject to the existing state sales tax on tangible personal property. For example: furniture, cars, giftware, toys, antiques, clothing and gasoline are subject to local sales taxes.
Groceries and prescription medications would be exempt, ensuring the tax does not apply to essentials. This means residents can support needed improvements to City services without increasing the cost of basic necessities, keeping the impact low while delivering important benefits for the community.
How does Twentynine Palms compare with nearby cities on sales tax rates? Twentynine Palms is one of the few communities in the region without a local sales tax. The current sales tax rate in Twentynine Palms is 7.75%, which consists of state, county, and special district taxes only.
Passing this measure keeps revenue local to maintain roads, support public safety, and improve local services.
What would funds raised by a possible sales tax measure go towards? Any funds raised by the potential ballot measure being explored would go to the City's General Fund to be used for Twentynine Palms city services and facilities, including:
• REPAIRING AND MAINTAINING city streets
• PROVIDING effective public safety, police officers, patrols, and rapid 911 response times • PREPARING the City for emergencies (including flooding, fire, earthquakes, and traffic accidents) • MAINTAINING parks, trails, and open spaces
• MAINTAINING animal control services and ensuring the animal shelter meets basic health and safety standards
What taxpayer protections would be included?
Taxpayer protections would be required by the measure. Any funds generated by the potential measure we're exploring would go to the City's General Fund to be used for Twentynine Palms city services and facilities. Any funds generated would stay locally controlled in the City of Twentynine Palms. The measure will require oversight, independent financial audits, and yearly reports to the community to ensure the funds are spent as promised.
If no decisions have been made yet, when will the important discussion and decisions happen? Currently, the City of Twentynine Palms is taking deliberate steps to reach out and LISTEN to our community. No final decisions have been made yet on this issue. The City is committed to full transparency, including proactively keeping our community informed throughout 2026.
Who makes the final decision?
The locally elected Twentynine Palms City Council is the legal entity that is responsible for taking action to place a city measure on the ballot. Ultimately, Twentynine Palms REGISTERED VOTERS will have the final say when they vote for or against the measure.
Where can I go for more information?
For more information, visit www.ci.twentynine-palms.ca.us or contact [email protected]
6136 Adobe Road
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Provided for your information only by the City of Twentynine Palms.
City of
Twentynine Palms
Stone James
CITY OF TWENTYNINE PALMS
May 2026
Dear City of Twentynine Palms Resident,
Thank you for your interest in the City of Twentynine Palms’ needs. Your feedback is essential in helping us serve you better, and protect our city’s quality of life.
Earlier, we asked you for your priorities for our City. Altogether, we received nearly 700 completed surveys with over 519 personal comments from community members. “29 provides amazing public services, quick responses to emergencies, beautiful open spaces, and essential local support.” — Kevin L.
“I’m now an eleven year resident of 29 Palms. I just wanted to say that finally I can get pretty much everything that I need to buy in 29 Palms.” — Randy R. “Overall the city is doing great. We’re proud to be residents and business owners.
Doing anything possible to minimize fees and red tape for small independent businesses trying to make 29 Palms a success are crucial to us.” — Blake H-K. “The city needs to look at improving the infrastructure to handle flooding and waste water.” — Anonymous
Thank you for your input. With the increased cost of providing essential services like street maintenance, flood prevention, and public safety, the City Council will soon make important decisions considering a modest local sales tax (1%) to support city services.
No decisions have been made yet. Ultimately, any measure that goes to the ballot will require taxpayer protections—and local voters will decide.
For more information, visit our website at www.ci.twentynine-palms.ca.us/LISTENS or email us at [email protected].
Thanks again — your opinions matter.
Sincerely,
Stone James, City Manager, City of Twentynine Palms
Thank you
for your input.
We received nearly 700 total responses from Twentynine Palms residents. As a City, our priorities moving forward include:
E REPAIRING & MAINTAINING city streets.
E PROVIDING effective public safety, police officers,
patrols, and rapid 911 response times.
E PREPARING the City for emergencies (including flooding, fire, earthquakes, and traffic accidents).
E MAINTAINING parks, trails, and open spaces.
E MAINTAINING animal control services and ensuring the
Paws n Palms animal shelter meets basic health and
safety standards.
We recently asked
about your priorities
regarding city services—
and you responded.
We are
Listening.
Our goal as a city is to continue
providing quality city services and
protecting local families.
Twentynine Palms is one of the few communities in the region without a local sales tax.
If approved, visitors and tourists would pay a large percentage of the proposed sales taxes to help fund our street maintenance, police, and other critical services—and would not apply to essentials local families rely on like groceries and prescription medications.
City Council Action:
E Tuesday, June 23, 6:00 PM
Twentynine Palms City Hall
6136 Adobe Road
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
For more information,
SCAN this QR code, or visit our website.
You can also email us at:
[email protected]
www.ci.twentynine-palms.ca.us/LISTENS
Have any questions?
Possible Ballot
Question:
“Shall the measure funding the City
of Twentynine Palms services such
as maintaining 911 response times,
police officers and patrols, emergency
response, maintenance of streets,
parks and trails, upgrade the animal
shelter, and support general city
services; raising the sales tax by 1%
be adopted, providing approximately
$2,000,000 annually until ended
by voters; requiring audits/public
spending disclosure, all funds used
locally, be adopted?”
Taxpayer
Safeguards:
E Basic necessities, like groceries
and prescription medications,
will NOT be taxed.
E Any funds generated would
stay locally controlled in the
City of Twentynine Palms.
E Oversight, independent
financial audits, and yearly
reports to the community will
be required to ensure funds are
being spent as promised.