Measure P

Fairfield Transaction and Use Tax

Measure P would increase the City's existing sales tax rate by 1% (or 1 cent) to 2% on every dollar of taxable sales of goods in the City and extend the existing 1% Transaction and Use Tax until ended by voters. This measure will provide and protect funding for Fairfield's services, such as police, fire, 911 emergency response, neighborhood safety, street and sidewalk repair, homelessness prevention and response, and general governmental use.

Measure P requires approval by a majority of voters voting on the measure to pass.

Fiscal Impact: The measure would increase the existing sales tax by 1% and will raise approximately $24 million per year in new local revenue for use in the City.

See Endorsements for Measure P

Pro:

Supporters say that for more than a decade, Measure P has provided locally controlled funding that stays in Fairfield and cannot be taken by the State. Measure P helped protect neighborhood police patrols, maintain fire and emergency medical response, and repair local streets and roads. But the cost of providing essential city services has increased dramatically. Public safety costs more. Street repairs cost more. Emergency response, equipment, fuel, insurance, and basic city operations all cost more. Without renewing and updating Measure P, Fairfield will face difficult choices that could affect the services residents rely on every day.

A YES vote on this measure means: Extend and adopt the 1% increase in sales tax.

Con:

Opponents say that Measure P raises Fairfield’s sales tax by up to one cent per dollar “until ended by voters.” The City promises funding for police, fire, and streets, but the money goes into the general fund with no spending guarantees. A higher sales tax increases the cost of everyday necessities. Families pay more for basic items, making daily life more expensive at a time when inflation is already high. Fairfield already collects a local sales tax that was supposed to stabilize essential services. Instead of managing existing revenues responsibly, the City now seeks to raise the rate again, indefinitely.

Opponents argue that Measure P removes the previous sunset clause, meaning this tax could continue forever unless voters later repeal it. Ending this tax would require a new ballot initiative and thousands of signatures collected, a process so difficult that few communities ever succeed. Once enacted, it becomes a permanent tax with no expiration date.

A NO vote on this measure means: Do not extend or adopt the 1% increase in sales tax.

Background

The City of Fairfield expects to maintain general municipal services for City residents, businesses, and visitors at the levels they expect and deserve. The City Council has been informed by staff that the City needs additional local funds to fund vital City programs and services, such as homeless services and prevention, maintaining response times from public safety, road maintenance, and parks and recreation programming. Additional sources of local revenue will help the City maintain local control over its revenue and promote fiscal sustainability.

The current transaction and use tax in Fairfield is 1%, or 1 cent, of every dollar of taxable sales of goods in the City.

Proposal

If approved, Measure P would increase the City’s existing sales tax rate by 1%, or 1 cent, on every dollar of taxable sales of goods in the City, and on the taxable storage, use or consumption in the City of goods purchased — increasing the existing sales tax to 2%. Measure P would also extend the City’s existing 1% transactions and use tax until ended by the voters. The Measure would be a general tax, which means the tax revenue could be spent for all general governmental purposes. The City estimated that this Measure will raise approximately $24 million per year in new local revenue for use in the City. The City Council’s adopted ballot question states this new revenue would be used for general City services including police, fire, 911 emergency response, neighborhood safety, street and sidewalk repair, and homelessness prevention and response. The Sales Tax Ordinance would be in effect until ended by the voters.

Source: Impartial Analysis of Measure P

Solano County Election Resources

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Background

Proposal

2026 Propositions

2026 Local Ballot Measures

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