Calabasas council approves budget amendment to fund outreach and survey for potential sales tax measure

The Calabasas City Council voted to amend the fiscal year 2025 general fund budget to fund outreach, a contracted survey and estimated election costs for a potential local sales tax measure.

Council members approved the budget amendment in a 5-0 vote after an extended discussion about timing, costs and legal constraints. The motion to amend the budget was moved and seconded by council members and recorded as carrying by unanimous vote.

Why it matters: Council members said the city faces structural budget pressure that could require program cuts or staffing reductions absent new revenue. Staff described discrete line items in the amendment: funds for outside legal services, survey work, outreach and the incremental election cost if the city consolidates with the June primary versus the November general election.

City Manager Kendan Meek and staff answered council questions about the proposed expenditures and timing. Kendan Meek said the staff expects to run a single statistically valid survey before the February decision deadline if the council pursues an earlier (June) election, and that a November ballot would allow more time for outreach and for a follow-up survey: "We are only likely to have be able to do one survey from now until February when the council would have to make a decision on a fiscal emergency," Meek said.

Several council members voiced concern about two issues. Council Member Shapiro said the primary concern is timing and whether the city will have adequate time to educate voters: "My two concerns are number one the timing ... and the second is the word 'emergency' and the fact of doing that." Council Member Albert urged careful door-to-door outreach to persuade skeptical residents. Council Member Winro and others argued both sides about whether June (earlier revenue but shorter outreach runway) or November (longer outreach, more voters) would produce a better result.

On legal and voting mechanics, Pam (identified in the meeting exchange) confirmed that a declaration of a fiscal emergency requires five votes to pass. Staff also warned the council that if the county places its own sales tax measure on the November ballot, county action could affect the city’s ability to pass a separate measure and the effective tax cap.

What happens next: The council directed staff to begin the contracted survey and outreach work and return with survey results and a timeline to inform a February decision on whether to declare a fiscal emergency and finalize an election date. The budget amendment funds those preparatory steps but does not by itself declare a fiscal emergency or place a measure on the ballot.

Details and vote: The motion approved an amendment to the FY2025 general fund budget to support a potential sales tax measure (the motion was moved by Council Member Winro and seconded by Council Member Albert; recorded vote tally: yes 5, no 0).