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Measure T sales tax passes in Lemon Grove; council allocates first-year funds to streets, public safety and community programs
Summary
The city reported Measure T — a one-cent sales tax that began July 1 — passed with 71% approval and described recommended first-year allocations including $4.2 million for infrastructure and $2.0 million targeted to the worst streets.
Lemon Grove — City leaders told a joint meeting of the Lemon Grove City Council and School Board on July 29 that Measure T, a one-cent local sales tax that began July 1, passed with 71% voter approval and that the city’s oversight committee has recommended allocations for the fund’s first year.
City officials said the committee and council identified about $5.9 million available in the first year. Of that total, roughly $4.2 million will be dedicated to infrastructure needs; within that infrastructure total, officials said approximately $2.0 million is earmarked for neighborhood streets that have a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) under 25 — streets by schools and in residential areas.
Officials also described non-infrastructure uses recommended for the first-year allocation: a pilot TOPS program (a specialized deputy assignment with the county sheriff focused on quality-of-life issues such as graffiti, retail theft and chronic nuisance activity), a small-business gift-card program designed to direct consumer spending to local merchants, funding to support free day camps for homeless or unhoused youth and expanded free large-item pickup events to combat illegal dumping.
City presenters emphasized that staff deliberately under-budgeted some line items in planning to remain conservative given economic uncertainty and tariffs; the measure’s total first-year cash projection and allocations could be revisited if projections change.
Mayor Allison Snow said the tax was “a resounding yes by the community” and called the investments an opportunity to “keep Lemon Grove safe and improve our streets and service to residents.” City staff noted other recent capital work: the city reported spending about $8.5 million on infrastructure in the past year using a mix of ARPA, gas-tax, TransNet and grant funding.
The council has also begun planning complementary projects near school sites, including applications for federal safe-routes-to-school funds and design studies for Madera Road safety improvements. City staff said restroom renovations at the recreation center and coordination with the school district about joint use of playgrounds and sports fields are planned but no final designs or budgets were approved July 29.
No ordinance or appropriation ordinance adopting final budgets for Measure T proceeds was passed at the meeting; council discussion focused on oversight committee recommendations and near-term project planning.
