Ceres council votes to put 1-cent sales tax before voters after hours of debate

The Ceres City Council voted 4-1 on June 22 to place a locally controlled 1-cent sales tax measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot, sending the decision to voters after a lengthy public hearing.

City staff described the proposed transactions-and-use tax as a locally controlled revenue source estimated to generate about $9.4 million annually, to be used for priority services identified during community outreach — maintaining 911 response times, hiring and retaining police officers, maintaining patrol services, addressing gang activity and homelessness, and other city needs. The staff presentation said the measure would include independent annual financial and performance audits, public disclosure of expenditures, and a citizen oversight committee.

Supporters urged voters be allowed to decide. John Blount, vice president of the Ceres Police Officers Association, said the department has been unable to fully staff authorized positions for more than a decade and described cuts to specialty units. "We are not asking the council to vote in favor of this tax measure tonight," the association's president told the council during public comment. "We are simply asking you to place it on the November ballot and allow the residents of Ceres to decide for themselves." Fire department representatives also spoke in favor of placing the measure before voters, saying additional local revenue would preserve emergency response capabilities.

Opponents raised affordability and transparency objections. Several residents and speakers cautioned that a 1-percentage-point increase would raise the city's sales tax from 8.375% to 9.375% and argued the burden would fall disproportionately on lower-income households. Josh Steeley, a resident, said the staff report described the proposal as a "general" tax and urged the council to be clear: "If the money is not legally restricted to 911 response, police staffing, or emergency services, then the title is misleading," he said. Multiple speakers questioned the representativeness of the city's outreach, noting about 300 survey respondents out of roughly 49,000 residents.

Council debate focused on two questions: whether it was appropriate to let voters decide now, and whether the city's finances and accountability systems are sufficiently robust to justify asking for more revenue. Councilmember Viera said she was concerned about creating litigation risk and the potential burden on residents. Councilmember Casey said residents should have the chance to vote. The mayor and vice mayor supported placing the measure on the ballot, stressing that the council action simply allows voters to decide and that state law restricts use of public funds for advocacy.

The council also approved related procedural resolutions to call and consolidate the election and to adopt candidate-statement rules. If the measure qualifies and voters approve it in November, the city will implement the tax and establish the oversight provisions described in the staff report.

Next steps: by law the city will work with the county registrar to consolidate the November election and will pursue required public-notice and ballot-preparation steps. If the measure appears on the ballot, the council and staff said they would provide regular, publicly posted audits and oversight reports if voters approve.