Proposed General Transactions and Use Tax on November Ballot
Summary
About $124,000 in regional RSTP funds is designated for Pacific Grove over three years, usable for any transportation project the city chooses — the last allocation went to intersection work near the Kimpton hotel.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 11
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jul 21, 2026.
Impact analysis
Roughly $124,000 in regional grant funds available to the city over three years.
Residents, if the city directs the money to local street, bike or pedestrian projects.
Shoppers and local merchants if higher sales tax discourages local spending, per the public commenter.
Mentions & discussions (11)
Beautification and Natural Resources Commission — July 21, 2026
The council has approved putting a 0.375% sales tax on the November ballot to fund infrastructure, following community survey outreach.
City Council Special Meeting — July 7, 2026
Pacific Grove voters will decide this November whether to approve a general transactions and use tax — a sales tax — whose revenue would go into the city's general fund. Because it's a general tax, the council could spend the money on any municipal priority.
Library Board — July 7, 2026
The council was set to consider a ten-year 0.375% sales and use tax that evening to fund infrastructure and recreation needs, keeping the revenue in Pacific Grove before a regional agency could claim the remaining tax capacity.
Planning Commission Regular Meeting — May 14, 2026
City spending is outpacing revenue, reserves are projected to drop from 41% to 21%, and there's $21 million in unfunded infrastructure needs over ten years. A 0.38-cent sales tax increase could go on the November 2026 ballot, raising about $1 million a year, plus possible parking meter hikes from $2 to $2.25 an hour.
Architectural Review Board — May 12, 2026
The city is running annual deficits — expenses will outgrow revenues over the next five years — and faces $21 million in unmet infrastructure needs over ten years. Staff proposes a three-eighths-cent sales tax on the November ballot raising about $1 million a year for streets, parks, and public safety. A resident pushed back, questioning city spending.
Museum Board — May 12, 2026
The council will consider in June a 3/8-cent sales tax increase that would raise about $1 million a year and go to voters on the June 2026 ballot if adopted. As a general tax it could fund streets, parks, public safety and more.
Historic Resources Committee — April 22, 2026
The city is running a structural budget shortfall — expenses are growing faster than revenues, reserves are projected to shrink from 41% to 21%, and there's a $21 million infrastructure backlog over ten years. Staff proposed a three-eighths-cent sales tax increase for the November 2026 ballot that would raise about $1 million a year, and asked residents to take a community survey.
Beautification and Natural Resources Commission — April 21, 2026
The city spends more than it takes in each year and is draining reserves to cover the gap — reserves are projected to drop from 41% to 21% within five years. There's also about $21 million in unfunded infrastructure needs. Staff want to put a three-eighths-cent sales tax on the November 2026 ballot to raise roughly $1 million a year, plus raise recreation, development, cemetery, and parking fees.
Traffic Safety Commission — March 24, 2026
About $124,000 in regional RSTP funds is designated for Pacific Grove over three years, usable for any transportation project the city chooses — the last allocation went to intersection work near the Kimpton hotel.
City Council Regular Meeting — March 18, 2026
True North Research presented survey results on a possible revenue measure, and council authorized moving into the next phases of work. A future tax measure could appear on a ballot.
City Council Regular Meeting — January 21, 2026
The city is running a $1.96 million deficit this year and needs about $11.7 million over five years for streets and facilities. Council approved just the polling phase of a consultant contract to find out what taxes residents might support — including a possible TOT increase and a 0.375% sales tax.
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