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Victorville officials say Measure P funds boosted public safety, reduced homelessness and built capacity over five years
Summary
City staff told the council Measure P has generated about $124 million since FY2021 and credited the revenue with hiring deputies, adding firefighters and code‑compliance officers, opening a fire station and expanding the wellness center — changes officials say correlate with reduced collisions and unsheltered homelessness.
Victorville — City staff on Tuesday presented a five‑year update on the Public Safety Plan and Measure P, saying the local 1‑cent sales tax has provided roughly $124 million in revenue since first collections in 2021 and has been directed to police, fire, code compliance, animal services and homelessness response.
City Manager Metzler told the council the money allowed the city to stabilize reserves, support internal risk management and expand service capacity. He said public safety investments included bringing on school resource officers and deputies, adding 12 firefighter paramedics, opening a staffed fire station and standing up three transport‑capable squads. Metzler said those changes have enabled a shift to smaller patrol beats and expanded traffic enforcement.
The presentation included metrics staff said show impact: a reported 39% drop in traffic collisions from the 2019 measurement year (from 5,022 to 3,065), a 40% year‑over‑year decrease in homicides in the most recent year cited, reduced average response times on lower‑priority calls, and a 57% decrease in Victorville’s unsheltered homeless count in the 2025 point‑in‑time comparison. Metzler also highlighted growth in code compliance staffing (from eight officers in 2019 to 25) and the wellness center’s grant support; staff reported more than 200 wellness center clients had moved from homelessness to permanent housing.
Council members praised staff transparency and the strategic use of funds. Mayor Pro Tem Herriman and others asked staff to use social media to publicize the results; staff said the presentation is intended to provide data for public communication. Several members asked about continuing needs — particularly roads and infrastructure — and encouraged staff to return with specific budget proposals.
The council voted unanimously to receive and file the public safety plan update, directing staff to use the findings in outreach and ongoing planning. The item was presented as an informational update; no new taxes or budget amendments were adopted at the meeting.
What’s next: Staff said it will continue to monitor Measure P revenues, return with related budget proposals, and work with the council on the next three‑year strategic plan.
