Pacifica council votes unanimously to place 1¢ sales‑tax measure on Nov. 3 ballot

The Pacifica City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 5 to place a proposed 1¢ transactions‑and‑use (TUT) sales‑tax measure on the Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot, following a staff presentation that described structural budget shortfalls and projected roughly $5,000,000 in annual revenue if voters approve the measure.

City Manager (staff) and Assistant City Manager Julia Cardo told the council the action tonight was not to adopt a tax but to allow voters to decide. "This action tonight is not a council action to adopt the tax. It's to place it on the ballot and give the voters the opportunity to decide," Cardo said during the presentation. Staff explained placing the measure requires a supermajority of the council (four members) and that implementation and collection, if approved by voters, would be handled by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA).

Why it matters: staff said Pacifica faces a multi‑layered structural imbalance — rising costs, limited local revenue base, and recent state actions that reduced expected backfill funds — leaving the city with few purely administrative ways to close the gap. During the presentation staff estimated the TUT could generate roughly $5 million per year for the general fund and that the council’s decision to place the measure on the ballot must be followed by formal filing with San Mateo County by Aug. 7.

Council deliberations focused on ballot wording, oversight and sunset options. Staff noted that polling had tested the phrase "public disclosure" more favorably than "citizen oversight." Council ultimately retained the tested ballot phrasing but added a recital to the resolution committing the council to create a citizens oversight committee to review revenues from the measure.

City attorney read the revised ballot wording and related recital into the record before the vote, and the council then moved and seconded the resolution. The motion passed unanimously. The resolution calls for the city to request San Mateo County to consolidate Pacifica’s municipal election with the statewide general election and to provide election services. The meeting record shows the council also directed staff to prepare the required impartial analysis and to post informational materials for voters once the measure is filed.

What’s next: staff will submit the ordinance and ballot materials to the county by the statutory deadline and prepare the impartial analysis and other voter information. If voters approve the measure, collection and administration would proceed under CDTFA rules and revenues would be deposited to Pacifica’s general fund subject to annual independent audit.