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Oxnard council votes to place Measure O sales-tax renewal on November ballot after mixed public comment
Summary
After hours of public testimony and council debate about ballot language and long-term fiscal policy, the City Council voted 6-1 to place a half-cent sales-tax renewal (Measure O) on the November 3, 2026 ballot; discussions focused on whether ballot language should list prioritized services or remain strictly neutral.
The Oxnard City Council voted 6-1 on June 16 to place a proposed renewal of Measure O (a one-half cent sales and use tax) on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The proposal would continue a half-cent tax at current rates with the measure text identifying priority spending areas and requiring oversight and audits.
City Manager Alex W presented the staff recommendation and ballot question draft, which lists high-priority services identified from outreach and survey work: public safety, 911 emergency response, fire protection, street repair and pothole work, homelessness response, senior services and after-school programs, with audit and public-spending disclosure language. Council member Star argued for neutral ballot wording and raised broader fiscal concerns about rapid revenue growth, stating he could have been persuaded "if we had neutral ballot question language." He offered an alternate neutral wording to avoid what he called putting the "thumb on the scale." The alternate wording would describe the measure as "extending an existing half-cent sales tax providing $20 million annually for general municipal purposes" without listing service priorities.
Public comment was extensive and split: callers and in-person speakers urged both sides. Supporters including business and civic leaders said local taxation preserves local control of funds and supports police, fire and youth programs; several residents asked the council to put the renewal before voters so the electorate can decide. Opponents argued that Oxnard already has high combined sales tax rates, that past ballot language had been used to promote broad-sweeping descriptions of intended uses, and that voters deserve neutral phrasing and clear accounting of the impacts if Measure O lapses.
After discussion, councilmembers voted to place the staff-drafted measure on the ballot. The motion to order the election and submit the proposed measure language passed 6-1 with Councilmember Star voting no. The council directed staff to work with the County on ballot mechanics and to ensure required oversight and reporting provisions are in the measure language.
