Fairfax council votes to place sales‑tax renewal and 0.25% increase on June ballot amid debate over sunset and advisory question
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Summary
The council unanimously approved resolutions to submit a ballot measure that would remove the sunset on the town's 0.75% sales tax and raise it to 1.0% (projected to generate about $1.3M annually). Debate and public comment focused on timing, the lack of a sunset clause and whether an advisory question should be added; the council declined the advisory measure.
The Fairfax Town Council voted on March 4 to place a renewal and rate‑increase of the town’s local transactions and use tax (Measure C) on the June 2, 2026 ballot, after hours of discussion and public comment about budget needs and process.
What the measure would do: the measure would extend the existing town transactions‑and‑use tax (currently 0.75 percentage points) and increase the town’s dedicated portion to 1.00 percentage point. Staff estimated the 1.0% rate would generate roughly $1.3 million a year for the town’s general fund, which pays for police, fire, street maintenance and other core services. If approved by voters, the collection of the renewed rate would begin April 1, 2027, when the prior special‑purpose sunset expires unless voters extend it.
How the council acted: the council adopted three related resolutions by roll call: (1) to submit the ballot measure to voters, (2) to request the Board of Supervisors consolidate the special municipal election with the statewide primary on June 2, and (3) to set filing rules and deadlines for direct and rebuttal ballot arguments. The resolutions passed on recorded roll‑call votes with the council members present voting in favor.
Why the June ballot: staff recommended June to avoid a gap in collections. Under state law, if the town waits until the November election to seek renewal, there would be a temporary lapse in the town’s receipt of that revenue because of how statewide and local tax enactment dates are scheduled.
Public debate and concerns: the measure prompted intensive public comment. Several residents urged that any renewal include a sunset (for example, nine or ten years) so voters could reassess the tax later; others warned the ballot language that lists example uses could create the impression that the tax is restricted to those items, when the proposed measure is a general tax deposited into the town’s general fund and subject to annual audits.
Council compromise and advisory question: councilmembers debated whether to add a separate, nonbinding advisory question telling the council how voters prioritize police, fire and road funding. After discussion — and several council members warning the advisory question could create confusion — the council declined to place the advisory question on the ballot.
Representative quote: “It’s not that we are in an emergency today; it will be a dire emergency if we do not pass a renewal, because the revenue expires in March,” Mayor Hellman said in explaining the need to place the measure on the June ballot.
Next steps: staff will coordinate with the county elections office to finalize ballot language and logistics. The council’s action to place the measure on the June ballot requires only a majority for the resolutions that submit language and set procedures, but placing the question in June required a unanimous (5‑0) finding of fiscal emergency. If voters pass the measure, it will require a simple majority (50% plus one) to enact the general tax for the town; if it were instead framed as a special, earmarked tax the legal threshold and drafting would differ.
Vote record (selection): the council recorded affirmative roll‑call votes for the three measures (all members present voting yes on each adopted resolution).
