Time is up for Orange County governments to add measures to the general election ballot. Here are some of the major ballot measure items headed to voters in November.<\/p>\n
Costa Mesa\u00a0<\/p>\n
Costa Mesa voters will be asked in November if business license taxes should be increased<\/a> for some large businesses making more than $500,000 in annual revenue.<\/p>\n Keep up with LAist.<\/p>\n If you’re enjoying this article, you’ll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less. <\/p>\n Currently, large businesses have a $200 limit for taxes to operate in the city. For example, big box stores like Home Depot and Target in Costa Mesa only pay $200 a year in business license taxes. The change, if approved, could increase that to as high as $15,000 based on gross income.<\/p>\n Small businesses \u2014 which the city defines as those with $500,000 or less in gross income \u2014 will not be affected.<\/p>\n Irvine<\/p>\n In Irvine, voters will be asked whether the city should switch the local election system to ranked-choice voting<\/a> in 2028.<\/p>\n The system would allow voters to rank their candidates in order of preference instead of casting a vote for one candidate.<\/p>\n If approved, the change would only take effect if the costs stay below 0.23% of the city\u2019s general fund. If the switch goes above that amount, the ranked-choice voting system could be delayed until a future election.<\/p>\n Help keep stories like this free<\/p>\n \n LAist is 100% community funded. Your support makes it possible to keep producing the local reporting Southern California depends on.\n <\/p>\n Orange<\/p>\n Orange is currently a general law city bound by state law and mandates. Voters will decide if Orange should become a charter city<\/a>, joining other municipal governments such as Los Angeles, Santa Ana and Huntington Beach.<\/p>\n Charter cities still have to follow state and federal laws, but can establish their own rules on issues such as mayoral authority, term limits and financial management.<\/p>\n Voters in Orange will also decide on a one-cent sales tax increase that, if approved, would last for 13 years.<\/p>\n The city of Orange is looking at increasingly dire budget conditions. In the 2024 election, voters narrowly rejected a 10-year half-cent sales tax measure<\/a> estimated to generate $20 million in annual revenue.<\/p>\n San Clemente<\/p>\n Residents of San Clemente got a sales tax initiative measure<\/a> on the November ballot that proposes a 1% sales tax increase. If approved, the increase could generate about $15 million in revenue for local beach restoration and wildfire prevention.<\/p>\n Over the past few years, coastal erosion has shrunk portions of San Clemente beaches<\/a>. To fix the problem, experts have turned to costly sand replenishment projects<\/a>.<\/p>\n In 2024, voters rejected a 0.5% sales tax increase.<\/p>\n Santa Ana<\/p>\n Santa Ana\u2019s 1.5% sales tax increase \u2014 called Measure X \u2014 is supposed to decrease in 2029 and then completely go away by 2039. Public officials have said the loss of Measure X could mean the city loses millions of dollars in revenue.<\/p>\n Santa Ana voters will decide in November whether to make the Measure X tax permanent<\/a>.<\/p>\n The tax measure was approved by voters in 2018. Money from the tax has helped the city fund street maintenance, public safety, youth services and homelessness services.<\/p>\n Westminster\u00a0<\/p>\n Voters in Westminster will be asked if the transient occupancy tax<\/a>, paid for by hotel and motel guests, should be increased to 12%. The hike is expected to generate about $452,000 in revenue for general services, including homelessness, park maintenance, and public safety.<\/p>\n Families within the Westminster School District will decide if the district could issue up to $128 million in bonds for school repairs and upgrades<\/a>.<\/p>\n What didn\u2019t make it to the ballot?\u00a0<\/p>\n In Anaheim, three ballot measures failed: One would have asked voters if a 3% tax should be added to entertainment tickets<\/a>, like theme parks and sports venues. The City Council also chose not to move forward with a ballot item that would have taxed rideshare trips to and from Disneyland<\/a>. And a rent control ballot item fizzled,<\/a> with organizers saying signature-gathering had been suspended to focus on strengthening the ballot language.<\/p>\n A sales tax measure in Fullerton didn\u2019t garner enough support with the City Council to make it to the November ballot. The proposal was a 0.5% sales tax to fix the city\u2019s roads, but some council members expressed concern<\/a> over whether the city could be trusted to actually use the funds toward the repairs.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next?\u00a0<\/p>\n