Ballot Measure T

Measure T is a proposed 0.5% increase in the local sales tax (officially called a “transactions and use tax”) for the City of Sonoma, placed on the November 2024 ballot. The measure is designed to generate approximately $3 million annually to support essential city services.

If Measure T is passed, this tax would be applied to sales by retailers within the City of Sonoma and on the storage, use, or consumption in the City of tangible personal property by any retailer (for example, online purchases by City residents). State law provides exemptions that include prescription medication, groceries for home consumption, and other items.

Measure T was placed on the November 5, 2024, ballot by a unanimous vote of the Sonoma City Council to support existing and expanded City service levels and ensure financial stability and sustainability.

Measure T was placed on the ballot to address Sonoma’s significant budget deficit and ensure the continuation and enhancement of essential city services. In the FY2024/25 budget adopted on June 19, 2024, the City faced a $2.8 million shortfall, requiring the use of unrestricted fund balance to pass a balanced budget. Key contributors to the deficit include increased costs in police and fire contracts, a significant rise in CalPERS Unfunded Accrued Liability payments due to poor investment returns, and projected declines in major revenue sources like Sales Tax and Transient Occupancy Tax. Without new revenue sources, the City would be unable to expand services, such as creating a Parks and Recreation Department, or maintain current service levels.

The additional half-cent sales tax is projected to generate approximately $3 million annually.

All of the revenue from the local sales tax is spent locally for the benefit of the Sonoma community.  Measure T revenues will into the City’s General Fund, which provides basic city services including 911 emergency response, fire and ambulance services, police services, emergency preparedness, street and parks maintenance, planning and building services, housing programs, climate initiatives, and service contracts with local nonprofits serving youth, seniors, and the homeless, among other priorities set by the City Council such as the creation and expansion of a Parks and Recreation Department.

The largest share of the General Fund budget pays for fire, ambulance, and police services (over half the total budget), followed by maintenance of local streets and parks (including the Plaza).

Learn more at sonomacity.org/city-budget.

Most cities in Sonoma County have a local sales tax to support their general city services.  The cities of Cotati and Petaluma have a full cent local sales tax, Sebastopol has a three-quarter cent sales tax and the cities of Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, and Sonoma have a half-cent local sales tax.

All Measure T funds would remain local and be controlled by the City Council. By law, locally approved sales taxes cannot be taken away by the State.

The City of Sonoma has taken many steps to increase financial transparency and accountability. These include multi-year financial forecasting and capital planning, improved cost-recovery for fee-based services, an updated financial reserves policy, and monthly reporting to the City Council on revenues, expenditures, and investment transactions.

Measure T would add a half-cent to the local sales tax on an ongoing basis until repealed by the voters. This tax could be repealed by voters in the future if placed on the ballot by the City Council or by a citizen initiative.

Measure T requires approval by a simple majority of voters in order to pass.

More information about Measure T, including the ballot materials as well as links to City budget information, can be found on the City’s website at sonomacity.org/ballot-measure-t.  General information about the November 5 election can be found at sonomacity.org/elections.  If you are a member of a community organization that would like to receive a presentation on Measure T, please contact the City at cityhall@sonomacity.org or 707-933-2216.