City of Brawley

Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure

November 5, 2024 - General Election 

During the November 2024 election, Brawley residents will be able to vote on the Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure: a citywide 1% transactions and use tax (commonly known as a "sales tax"). The measure is a “general tax” that could generate $3.8 million per year into the City’s General Fund. The City’s sales tax revenues must be spent locally to address citizen needs with independent financial audits, until ended by voters. 

Before you vote in the November 5, 2024 election, please learn more about the measure below.

About the Measure

On July 16, 2024, the Brawley City Council adopted a resolution calling for the placement of the Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure: a citywide 1% transactions and use tax (commonly known as a "sales tax") measure on the November 5, 2024 ballot. The measure is a “general tax,” not a “special tax.” The revenues collected could help the City maintain and improve critical general services such as public safety, addressing homelessness, providing affordable housing opportunities, improve street maintenance, and be hard on drugs, gangs and crime. If a majority of voters approve the measure, revenues would go to the City’s General Fund to fund general City services and programs for its residents.

Why the Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure?

The City of Brawley is committed to maintaining the essential services that protect the local quality of life and property values. Providing community services and programs is becoming increasingly difficult due to the financial challenges that the City faces. These challenges include flat tax revenues and the increasing cost of delivering those essential services. While the City has diligently cut and deferred spending, it cannot reasonably continue to do so without significantly affecting services or impacting its ability to respond quickly to an emergency or economic downturn. If a majority of voters do not pass the Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure, the City may need to use its General Fund reserves to cover operational expenses for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026). The City may need to consider making cuts to community programs and services.

City’s Finances

Two-thirds of the City’s revenue comes from three revenue sources: property tax, sales tax, and utility tax. City expenses have risen approximately 3% since 2020. To create a balanced budget for FY 2024-25, the City's Finance team had to find creative, strategic and fiscally sustainable approaches to reduce expenditures. Per the FY 24-25 Adopted Budget, the City uses over 54% of the General Fund revenue to maintain the City’s public safety and 17% to maintain Community Services programs. City pension costs have increased 19% over the last four years, the City’s CalPERS Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) for FY 24-25 increased 49% compared to FY 22-23. The City also has a Pension Obligation Bond with average annual debt service payments of $1.3M until 2032. Per City Council policy, the City needs to keep its reserve funds at 15% of the total operating expenses. This also helps Brawley maintain a stable credit rating, which allows Brawley to borrow money to fund future projects, such as Capital Improvement Projects (CIP). The City will be investing $27.7 million in Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects, including:

• Investments in a wastewater project 

• Road and pedestrian improvements

• Heavy equipment investment

How Sales Tax Works

California law effectively "caps" the City’s sales tax at a maximum rate of 10.25%. The current sales tax rate of 7.75% leaves 2.5% remaining available to the City of Brawley to increase its sales tax revenue from sales generated within the City’s boundaries. If a majority of voters approve the Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure, the additional 1% sales tax would bring the total sales tax rate in the City to 8.75%. The City of Brawley would receive 2% out of that 8.75%. The rest goes to Imperial County and the State.

If the Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure passes, the 1% sales tax would only apply to certain purchases within Brawley, such as those at restaurants, bars, gas stations, and retail stores like clothing stores. For example, 20 cents would be added on a restaurant bill of $20, going directly into the City’s general fund. 

How the Measure will Appear on Your Ballot 

Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure: 

Shall the measure maintaining 911 emergency response, fire protection, firefighter paramedics, neighborhood police patrols, gang/drug prevention; keeping parks/public areas safe/clean, addressing homelessness; repairing streets/roads, potholes; retaining/attracting local small businesses; upgrading local water infrastructure, general government use, by establishing a 1% sales tax providing estimated $3,800,000 annually until ended by voters, requiring independent audits, public spending disclosure, all funds for Brawley, be adopted?

FAQs

What is a transactions and use (sales) tax?

A sales tax is an additional amount of money added to the cost of goods and services purchased. If the Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services measure is approved, an additional 1% sales tax will be applied to specific purchases within Brawley, such as those at restaurants, bars, gas stations and retail stores. For example, on a $20 restaurant bill, this measure would add an additional 20 cents. This tax does not apply to many grocery or professional services such as those provided by doctors, dentists or attorneys.

What is Brawley’s current sales tax rate?

The maximum allowable sales tax in California is 10.25%. Brawley’s current sales tax rate is 7.75% which allows for a potential increase of up to 2.5%.

How would the Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure change Brawley’s sales tax rate?

If approved by voters, the measure would increase Brawley’s sales tax by 1%, resulting in a new total sales tax rate of 8.75%. The City of Brawley would receive 2% of this total, with the remaining allocated to Imperial County and the State.

How will the Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure appear on the November 2024 ballot?

Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure

Shall the measure maintaining 911 emergency response, fire protection, firefighter paramedics, neighborhood police patrols, gang/drug prevention; keeping parks/public areas safe/clean, addressing homelessness; repairing streets/roads, potholes; retaining/attracting local small businesses; upgrading local water infrastructure, general government use, by establishing a 1% sales tax providing estimated $3,800,000 annually until ended by voters, requiring independent audits, public spending disclosure, all funds for Brawley, be adopted?

Is the Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure a general tax or a special tax?

The measure is a general tax requiring a simple majority (over 50%) of voter approval to pass.

How could the City use revenue from the Brawley Public Safety, Streets, Essential Services Measure?

If the measure is approved, the revenue will be allocated to Brawley’s General Fund and could be used to support general city services and programs such as:

• Police and fire services

• Addressing homelessness and drug issues

• Providing housing for low and moderate-income residents

• Maintaining water infrastructure

• Supporting small businesses

• Repairing streets and sewers

• Funding gang prevention and afterschool programs

What would happen if the Brawley Public Safety, Streets and Essential Services Measure does not pass?

If the measure does not pass, the City may need to utilize its General Fund reserves to cover operational expenses for the Fiscal Year 2025-26. Additionally, the City might have to consider reducing funding for community programs and services.