Vacaville council authorizes $350,000 cap to fund voter surveys and education for possible tax measures

The Vacaville City Council on Sept. 9 authorized the city manager to publish a request for proposals for voter opinion surveys and public-education services to test and, if warranted, prepare possible ballot measures to increase the city's sales tax, transient-occupancy tax and business license tax. Council approved a one-time fiscal-year 2025-26 augmentation for the effort of up to $350,000; the motion passed 5-2.

City staff framed the request as a response to a projected structural general-fund deficit. "If we don't take action to either reduce expenses or increase revenue or a combination of both, we will continue to deplete the reserve," Georgianne, a city staff presenter, told the council. Finance staff provided a multi-year forecast showing reserves declining if revenues remain at recent low growth rates.

Why it matters: Staff told council the city faces roughly a $9 million annual shortfall under current projections and has been using reserves and one-time savings to balance recent budgets. The proposed RFP is intended to produce statistically valid polling, outreach materials, and a phased education plan so the council can decide whether to place one or more measures on the November 2026 ballot and, if so, in what form.

What staff presented: Ken, identified as the finance…