Santa Ana voters were supporting the measure asking to make permanent the 1.5% local sales tax that generates revenue flowing straight into city coffers.
Measure N, or the “Santa Ana Streets, Public Safety, Essential City Services” measure, would replace Measure X, which was approved by voters in 2018 and schedules the local sales tax to drop to 1% in 2029 before expiring in 2039.
The City Council put Measure N on the ballot.
Supporters argue the proposal is “not a tax increase” and say the revenue would help address what officials describe as an “anticipated structural deficit,” and is currently supporting essential city services such as fire and EMS response, policing, street and pothole repairs, as well as graffiti and litter removal. Spending decisions would remain at the City Council’s discretion, with no guaranteed allocations to those programs.
If a simple majority of voters are in favor, the updated measure would eliminate the scheduled reduction and expiration and would maintain the 1.5 % tax currently in place, keeping the tax rate paid in Santa Ana at 9.25% when combined with the statewide base sales tax and the half-cent collected in Orange County for transportation needs. Voters could choose later to repeal it.
If a majority votes against the measure, the existing conditions for Measure X would remain in effect.
Measure N would retain existing oversight requirements, including a citizen oversight committee, annual independent audits and annual public disclosure of spending. Though the committee’s effectiveness came under scrutiny earlier this year after multiple vacancies left the oversight board without a quorum and unable to meet for seven months.
The delays prevented the committee from fulfilling its duties, including publicly reviewing the city’s annual 2024-25 audit of Measure X funds and developing budget recommendations for a tax that generated $82.6 million that fiscal year, of which the city spent $73.2 million.