El Cajon sales tax

EL CAJON COUNCIL VOTES TO PUT HALF-CENT SALES TAX EXTENSION ON NOVEMBER BALLOT

 

By Rachel Williams

August 8, 2024 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon’s City Council unanimously voted  on Tuesday  to put a 1/2 cent sales tax extension on the November 5 ballot. If approved by voters, the measure would continue a half-cent tax that is set to otherwise expire.  The tax has generated more than $13 million annually for El Cajon’s General Fund, and at least 75% of these funds support the City’s public safety operations.

If voters choose to pass Measure J, continuing this sales tax, significant budget cuts would be avoided, including but not limited to these essential services below:

  • Firefighters and paramedics
  • Police Officers
  • Street Maintenance (pothole repair and repaving)
  • Stormwater and sewage

When comparing El Cajon to other San Diego County cities, the Valley of Opportunity receives a smaller percentage of its property tax, which isn’t enough to sustain the community’s needs.


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EL CAJON HOSTS FOUR TOWN HALLS ON SALES TAX MEASURE

East County News Service

June 3, 2024 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon’s special sales tax measure (Prop J) is set to expire, and voters may soon be asked whether to approve extending the half-cent sales tax in the future.  The city invites residents to four town halls (June 13,15,18 and 20) to learn about the services provided through the half-cent sales tax and what services may have to be cut if the funding source is not continued.

Each Town Hall will include an interactive budgeting activity that will provide vital feedback to City leaders.

Below are the town hall meetings scheduled:


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EL CAJON COUNCIL WEIGHS SALES TAX EXTENSION, APPROVES INCUBATOR BUSINESS CENTER

Story and photos by Bransen Harper
Miriam Raftery contributed to this report
 
View video of full meeting; view agenda
 
May 6, 2024 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon City Council discussed matters of pivotal importance at its April 30 meeting, including a potential extension of the Proposition J sales tax measure previously approved by voters. Council also approved a landmark deal with the Chaldean Community Council to create an incubator business program for refugees and immigrants, as well as funding social services. 
 
The half-cent sales tax increase has been in place since voters approved Proposition J in 2008. It generates $14 million, or about 13% of the city’s revenue stream, according to a report presented to the Council, and has been instrumental in continuing to provide much-needed funds for local police and fire departments. But it will sunset, or end, in 2028, unless a new ballot measure is approved to extend it.

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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

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