Calabasas to ask voters to approve 1¢ local sales tax in May mail ballot
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Summary
The Calabasas City Council voted unanimously to place Measure K — a proposed 1-cent local sales tax — on the ballot; the city estimates it would raise about $5.3 million a year for wildfire mitigation, public safety and infrastructure and is asking voters to decide by May 5 before a county measure in June.
The Calabasas City Council voted unanimously to place Measure K, a proposed 1-cent local sales tax, on the ballot, city staff announced. If approved by voters, the city estimates the tax would generate approximately $5,300,000 annually to pay for wildfire mitigation and response, law enforcement and public safety, and maintenance of roads, parks and public facilities.
City staff said Los Angeles County is also moving forward with its own sales-tax proposal for a June 2026 ballot and warned that state law caps the total sales tax a city can levy. The staff statement said that if another agency such as the county uses the remaining tax capacity first, Calabasas could lose the opportunity to establish its own local sales tax, even though residents and visitors would still pay the higher total tax.
The announcement noted that many cities in Los Angeles County have adopted local sales taxes; the statement said 59 of the county’s 88 cities have approved 1-cent measures to support local services. City staff framed the proposal as a way to raise local revenue without placing the full burden on residents, saying roughly 57% of Calabasas’ sales-tax revenue is paid by nonresidents because of the city’s large visitor base.
Officials provided basic details about how the tax would work: a 1¢ increase equals one penny per dollar on taxable purchases, and sales tax does not apply to groceries, prescription medications, rent, utilities, labor or education. The city said Measure K will be decided by an all-mail ballot; all registered Calabasas voters will receive ballots by mail in a distinct yellow envelope. Ballots must be postmarked on or before May 5, 2026. The city directed voters to cityofcalabasas.com/elections for more information.
The council’s action to place Measure K on the ballot was announced by city staff; the transcript listed a unanimous vote but did not provide a roll-call tally or the names of the mover and seconder. The city statement did not specify whether the proposed tax would include any phased implementation, sunset dates or detailed spending formulas beyond the broad program areas listed.
