Salinas Finance Director Selena Andrews told the citys Finance Committee on Oct. 14 that Measure G currently funds 106.5 full-time positions across city departments and that staff has begun internal planning for a renewal campaign ahead of the measures expiration.

The report focused on how sales tax estimates and Measure G allocations were built into the fiscal 2025-26 general fund budget and on early steps staff is taking to prepare an eventual ballot measure. "We are starting to plan for potentially coming to the voters with that measure in the coming years," Andrews said, adding that staff has issued an RFP for a revenue-measure strategist and expects to conduct public polling before returning to council with a formal plan.

Why it matters: Committee members stressed that Measure G is a significant revenue source for the general fund and funds public-safety and public-works positions citywide. Committee discussion emphasized that, should a renewal fail, adjusting the budget to account for the loss would take multiple years and likely require phased reductions.

Andrews walked the committee through staffs sales-tax projections for fiscal 2025-26: about $39.3 million in general sales tax, $34.5 million from Measure G and $17.2 million from Measure E, for a combined staff projection of roughly $91 million in sales-tax revenue. She said Measure Gs current allocations support positions in several departments, with the largest shares in public works, the police department and recreation.

Committee members asked for timing and process details. Andrews said the measure is "set to expire Feb. 19, 2030," and that staff expects they will need to place any renewal question on an election by June of the relevant election year. Committee discussion and staff remarks named the 2026 and 2028 elections as possible windows for placing a measure before voters. Andrews said polling and strategist recommendations will inform the final timetable and contents of any placed measure.

Council members stressed public education. One committee member said, "It's really the community that's gotta jump on board, and that's our job to teach them what they don't know," and staff replied that the city will present polling questions and communications plans to the council so members can help explain the measure to constituents. Staff also warned about limits on city advocacy: communications must balance informing the public with legal restrictions on government advocacy for ballot measures.

The committee received the Measure G update and took no formal policy vote on the measure itself. The committee did approve the minutes from the Sept. 9, 2025 meeting by roll call (D'Arrigo, De La Rosa and Mayor Donahue voted aye).