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Council hears poll showing majority support for 1¢ sales tax; staff directed to continue outreach
Summary
A consultant’s poll found a 59% initial yes for a proposed 1¢ general sales tax in Tulare, rising to about 66% after education. Council gave staff direction to continue outreach and return with draft ballot language and a resolution of intent; members discussed adding language on youth/gang prevention.
A consultant presented a community survey showing initial majority support for a possible 1¢ general sales tax and counseled the council to proceed with education and outreach.
Richard Bernard, a polling consultant, told the council that in a random sample of 417 likely November 2026 voters the measure polled 59% yes, 35% no and 7% undecided, and that “after providing education support goes up 7 points from 59 to 66 overall.” He said the strongest respondent priorities were public safety, protecting drinking‑water sources and repairing roads, and that lowering the tax rate did not meaningfully increase support.
City Manager Mark Mondell framed the presentation for council, noting that a 1¢ sales tax would generate about $16 million annually in Tulare and that the presentation was information only. He said staff would return to council with recommended language, an outreach plan and a draft resolution of intent if the council wanted staff to proceed.
Council discussion focused on message content and wording. One council member urged adding explicit language about investing in youth and gang‑prevention programs; the polling consultant recommended including “preventing crime and gang activity” among the illustrative examples because it scored highly with voters. Council members debated the tradeoff between specificity and legal limits for a general‑purpose measure: under state law the ballot text for a general measure may only give illustrative examples, and overly specific spending promises could be construed to require a supermajority.
Council reached consensus to continue work on the 1¢ option, to refine ballot language with staff and legal counsel and to seek a resolution of intent at a future meeting. Staff said they would bring revised language and an outreach schedule back to the council in June, and that any final placement on the ballot would require a council vote and coordination with the county elections office.
Next steps: staff will draft and circulate ballot language options, a public‑education plan and a timeline to return to council for formal action.
