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Public Safety and Violence Prevention Funding Measure (Measure O)
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Join the City of Santa Rosa for a discussion about the future of funding for public safety and violence prevention services at an upcoming virtual or town hall meeting. To RSVP for one of our meetings please email communityengagement@srcity.org. June 29: 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Virtual) Councilmember MacDonald, Councilmember Sawyer, and Councilmember Schwedhelm |
In 2004, Santa Rosa voters approved Measure O to provide dedicated funding for public safety and for violence prevention programs in Santa Rosa. For the past 17 years these funds have been used to support fire protection, paramedics, rapid 9-1-1 emergency response, disaster preparedness, crime prevention, youth programs and police services. Funding for Measure O is set to expire in 2025.
Each year, an independent citizens’ oversight committee has reviewed the use of these funds and confirmed funds were spent appropriately for voter-approved public safety services. The most recent report of the oversight committee is available here. Unless renewed by voters, approximately $10 million in annual public safety funding will soon expire, which will require deep cuts to public safety services, youth programs and violence prevention initiatives in Santa Rosa. This current local quarter cent sales tax has provided dedicated public safety and violent prevention services funding, which added 25 cents to a $100 purchase.
Measure O Funds at Work for the Community
Currently over twenty-five firefighter, paramedic and police personnel positions are funded by Measure O. Additionally, Measure O funds more than 400,000 hours each year of youth and family mental health, public health, gang prevention and social services. Without Measure O funding these services for youth and families must be cut. Neighborhood fire stations will likely close, 9-1-1 emergency response times for fires, emergencies, accidents and violent crimes will also be slower.
Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) continues to handle an increasing number of calls each year. In 2020, SRPD received 203,455 calls for service, including 72,666 9-1-1 calls. Since its inception, Measure O funds are a critical part of the Police Department’s overall funding. These funds have allowed the SRPD to provide increased patrol services, respond to local emergencies and conduct enhanced traffic enforcement. Additionally, these funds have contributed to an increased presence in the downtown area with a substation in the transit mall.
Santa Rosa Fire Department has used Measure O funds for the construction and relocation of fire stations and hiring of paramedics and firefighters. Since 2005, three new fire stations were built with Measure O funds, Stations 5, 10, and 11. Additional funds are reserved for the future relocation of Station 8 (Roseland) or Station 9 (Southeast). Past and proposed fire station relocations are designed to place emergency response personnel and equipment close to key population centers to keep 9-1-1 emergency response times as quick as possible.
Measure O provides funding for the Santa Rosa Violence Prevention Partnership (The Partnership), which is a collaborative effort of over 50 organizations focused on a shared responsibility to strengthen youth and families and create safe and resilient neighborhoods through mobilizing and engaging parents, schools, community-based organizations, the faith community, business, government, and local law enforcement. Measure O funding also goes to the Neighborhood Services section of the City’s Recreation Division. The Recreation Division, with this funding, provides innovative youth development programming that serves at-risk, low-income, and homeless youth and families.
The Partnership also administers the CHOICE Grant Program, which receives funding from Measure O. Annually, the CHOICE Grant Program provides an average of $650,000 to $840,000 to local community-based organizations. From 2020 until present, nearly a million dollars has been awarded to local organizations supporting youth and families in Santa Rosa.
Renewing Local Public Safety Funding
The City is currently considering options for placing a measure on the ballot later this year to renew the existing local 1/4 cent sales tax that provides dedicated public safety and violence prevention funding. Continuing this funding for public safety through a local sales tax ensures that out-of-town visitors and shoppers also contribute to these local safety measures. Essential purchases like groceries and medicine are exempt from this sales tax to ensure it is not a burden to those on fixed or limited incomes.
A renewal measure would likely require the same strict fiscal accountability provisions as required by the current Measure O, including:
- An independent citizens’ oversight committee, mandatory financial audits, and annual reports to the community
- All money raised by a measure would be controlled locally and restricted to specific public safety and violence prevention programs
- By law, the money could not be taken away by Sacramento or diverted to other purposes
- None of the money could be used for City administrator salaries
- How are public safety services funded in Santa Rosa?
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Since 2004, general city funding for public safety services in Santa Rosa have been supplemented by a quarter-cent sales tax, Measure O. Santa Rosa voters approved Measure O to provide dedicated funding for public safety and youth programs and preventing gang violence. For the past 17 years these funds have been used to support fire protection, paramedics, rapid 9-1-1 emergency response, disaster preparedness, crime prevention and police services. Each year, an independent citizens’ oversight committee has reviewed the use of funds and confirmed funds were spent appropriately for voter-approved services.
- What types of public safety services has Measure O supported?
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Locally controlled public safety funding from Measure O has been critical for helping Santa Rosa recover from devastating fires in recent years and prepare for future fire seasons and potential public safety power shutoffs. Positions currently funded by Measure O include more than 25 firefighters, paramedics and police officers. Additionally, Measure O funds over 400,000 hours each year of youth and family mental health, public health, gang prevention and social services that keep Santa Rosa citizens safe.
- How are Measure O funds allocated?
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Measure O revenues are allocated approximately 40% for fire services, 40% for police services and 20% for violence prevention programs. These allocations could be augmented in a potential renewal measure.
- Does Measure O establish a minimum allocation of funds for public safety services?
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At adoption in 2004, Measure O set a baseline allocation of funds, ensuring that the budgets for police, fire and violence prevention programs do not fall below the FY 2004-05 totals, adjusted annually for inflation. In November 2016, voters approved a new baseline allocation for each service. Based on this measure, the total general fund budget is allocated at a minimum 34.3% for police, 23.7% for fire, and 0.4% for violence prevention programs. Minimum allocations and distributions could be altered in a potential renewal measure.
- Does Measure O funding expire soon?
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In 2004, voters approved Measure O with a 20-year expiration date. Unless renewed by voters, this approximately $10 million in annual public safety funding will expire in 2025, requiring deep cuts to public safety services in Santa Rosa.
- What happens if Measure O funding expires and we lose $10 million per year for public safety and violence prevention programs?
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Without Measure O funding, many of our firefighters, paramedics and law enforcement officers could be laid off and services for youth and families could be cut or limited. Due to potential cuts to violence prevention programs this could create additional costs to taxpayers. As a result, neighborhood fire stations will likely close and 9-1-1 emergency response times for fires, medical emergencies and accidents, and violent crimes will be impacted.
- What is the city doing to maintain this local public safety funding?
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The City is currently considering options for placing a measure on the ballot later this year to renew the existing local 1/4 cent sales tax that provides dedicated public safety and violence prevention funding.
- Specifically, what could a potential renewal measure fund?
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If approved by voters, renewed locally controlled public safety funding could be used to:
- Reduce the risk of wildfires by improving wildfire prevention, preparedness, early fire alert systems, rapid response and evacuation planning
- Maintain fire protection services and prevent the closure of fire stations
- Maintain rapid 9-1-1 emergency response
- Provide resources for youth programs and violence prevention efforts along with grants to community-based organizations
- Prevent reductions in the number of on-duty firefighters, paramedics and police officers
- Provide mental health counseling, wrap around services and programs to help at-risk youth and their families
- How do we know funds from a potential renewal measure would be spent as promised?
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A renewal measure would likely require the same strict fiscal accountability provisions as required by the current Measure O, including:
- An independent citizens’ oversight committee, mandatory financial audits and annual reports to the community
- All money raised by a measure would be controlled locally and restricted for public safety services only
- By law, the money could not be taken away by Sacramento or diverted to other purposes
- None of the money could be used for City administrator salaries
- Could the state take funding away from a potential renewal measure?
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No. The funds could not be taken away by the State or used for other purposes, ensuring that our tax dollars are used locally.
- Would a potential measure ensure that Santa Rosa’s visitors pay their fair share?
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Yes. Visitors who work or shop in our community and enjoy its many benefits would also pay the sales tax, ensuring that local homeowners and renters don’t shoulder the entire burden.
- How much might a potential renewal measure cost?
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The existing local sales tax that provides dedicated public safety funding is a quarter cent, adding 25 cents to a $100 purchase.
- Are there protections for people on fixed or limited incomes?
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Yes. By law, essential purchases like groceries and prescription medicine are exempt from a sales tax so it is not a burden to those on fixed or limited incomes.
- Didn’t Santa Rosa just pass a local sales tax measure?
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The City has passed measures to provide and maintain general city funding in recent years; however, only Measure O provides dedicated funding to support public safety services specifically.
- Don’t sales tax measures hurt local business?
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No, there is no evidence that increasing sales tax rates discourages patrons from supporting local businesses. An extra 25 or 50 cents per $100 spent is not enough incentive for a consumer to change their buying habits or drive extra distance. Plus, essential purchases are exempt from sales tax.
- How would a sales tax affect auto dealerships in Santa Rosa?
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Sales tax is paid on cars where they are registered, not where they are purchased, so a local sales tax does not impact business for local car dealers.
- Isn’t Sonoma County considering a tax measure for fire protection?
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Yes, this is being discussed, but is uncertain. In the meantime, Measure O is set to expire in 2025 and the City must take action before losing $10 million annually in public safety funding.