Fortuna council approves $37,500 for polling to test sales-tax options as budget gap grows

Fortuna — The Fortuna City Council voted 3-1 on June 3 to include $37,500 in the 2025–26 budget and to authorize staff to contract with polling firms to test voter support for possible sales-tax options, after staff presented figures showing limited revenue growth, rising costs and growing employee turnover.

City staff told the council the city’s estimated general fund revenue for the upcoming fiscal year is “a little over $8,000,000” while estimated general fund expenses are about $8,300,000, leaving a shortfall of roughly $235,000. Staff said turnover has accelerated; they estimated losing about 25 full‑time employees (roughly 30%) and 28 part‑time employees this fiscal year, a combined turnover near 50%.

The revenue-generation ad hoc committee, appointed by the council in April, recommended funding public-opinion research to determine whether Fortuna residents would support a new sales tax and, if so, what type. The staff report identified two broad options: a general sales tax (simple majority required) and a dedicated sales tax (two‑thirds voter approval required). The proposed polling contract names EMC…