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Gonzales City Council backs Measure B parcel tax to shore up fire and emergency services
Summary
On May 4, 2026, the Gonzales City Council adopted a resolution supporting Measure B, a parcel tax placed on the special primary ballot to provide a dedicated revenue stream for the city's fire and emergency medical services; council and staff stressed the levy would be restricted to department use and requires a two-thirds vote to pass.
Gonzales City Council adopted a resolution on May 4 supporting Measure B, a parcel tax the city will place on the upcoming special primary ballot to generate revenue limited to fire and emergency medical services.
City staff summarized the proposal and the fiscal context, saying the department is a roughly $1 million operation and that the parcel tax would be kept in a separate account and used only for the fire department’s designated needs, such as salaries and equipment. A staff member told the council that a city survey showed about 70% support among respondents for a parcel tax to maintain local fire services and reiterated that, because Measure B is a special tax, it would require a two-thirds vote to pass.
During discussion, council members and staff stressed that the fire department responds to daily medical calls in addition to fires and that existing funds — including $275,000 the council previously allocated from Measure K this year — would not fully close the operating gap. The city manager and other staff said the parcel tax would help but would not make the department whole and that the city is pursuing grants as an additional revenue source.
Several residents spoke during public comment. Henry Martinez Jr., a local property owner who said recent court charges against him were dismissed, opposed the measure on affordability grounds, saying, "Most of us can't afford this new tax," and warned the tax would be another cost for homeowners and businesses already facing higher bills. A second commenter questioned prior city spending decisions — including electric-vehicle chargers, a drone purchase and police vehicle expenses — and urged the council to show fiscal restraint before asking residents for more revenue.
After discussion and public comment, Mayor Jose Rios moved to approve resolution number 2026-17, a motion seconded by the council president. The council approved the resolution by voice vote. The resolution, as described in the staff report, confirms council support for Measure B, encourages the public to review information about the fire department and the measure, and acknowledges the legal constraint that city funds cannot be used to campaign for the measure.
Next steps: With the council’s adoption of the resolution, Measure B will appear on the special primary ballot; because it is a special parcel tax, it must receive a two-thirds majority of votes to be enacted.
