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Council reviews proposed transactions‑and‑use tax measure and outreach plan
Summary
Council and staff discussed proposed ballot language and education for a potential transactions‑and‑use tax (described as a quarter‑cent or 25¢ per $100), legal limits on total sales tax, differences between a general and a special tax, and the need for broad community outreach before any placement on the ballot.
City staff introduced an illustrative transactions‑and‑use tax proposal during the May 26 meeting and asked the council for input on ballot language and outreach.
Michael, representing city administration, described the proposal as a general tax and explained the legal difference between a general tax (which the council can spend at its discretion) and a special tax (which must be dedicated and requires a higher voter approval threshold).
"Lo máximo que podemos... es 9.25%... en este momento es 9%..." Michael said when explaining county and city sales tax ceilings and the potential limits if county or other jurisdictions raise their rates.
Staff described the illustrative rate verbally as "un cuarto de cento," framed as 25 cents per $100 of taxable purchases. Vice Mayor Solorzano and Councilmember Nomura asked whether the ballot text should be broad (to preserve flexibility) or narrower (to commit funds to specific priorities such as street maintenance or public safety). Michael and staff emphasized the city’s legal obligation to treat the measure as a general tax if presented that way and noted that the council could set priorities and an accompanying public engagement plan.
Multiple public commenters referenced Carpinteria’s prior Measure X (a general sales tax passed in 2018) to argue both for broader ballot language (to preserve flexibility) and for clearer, narrower language (to persuade voters concerned about specific services). Gaby Edwards, Lía Boer and Gil Marshall recounted the Measure X campaign and urged careful community outreach and coalition building.
Councilmembers instructed staff to continue refining the draft ballot language, to prepare bilingual public outreach materials and to schedule community meetings. Staff said specific revenue estimates and final ballot language remain to be determined and would be returned to council at future meetings.
No formal decision was made on placing the measure on the ballot; the council provided direction on outreach, survey results and draft text during the discussion.
