Atascadero voters will see a new sales tax measure on their ballots. What is it for?
A new sales tax measure will appear on Atascadero voters’ ballots in November.
The Atascadero City Council approved a resolution in June to put Measure L-24 up for a vote in the Nov. 5 General Election, the city said in a news release.
If approved, the Atascadero Local Roads and Vital Services Funding Extension Measure would extend the city’s existing half-cent-per-dollar general sales tax, keeping the tax at 8.75%.
The current tax rate is enforced by Measure F-14, which was adopted in 2014. The new ballot measure will not put any additional burden on taxpayers or raise the Measure F-14 tax rate that is already in place.
Unless it is renewed, the tax would expire in 2027.
“The adoption of this measure will not increase the current sales tax but simply extend the current Measure F-14 rate,” Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno said in the release. “Funds from the measure have significantly improved the quality of neighborhood roads in Atascadero and assisted with other vital services. Extending F-14 by adopting L-24 would enable the city to continue delivering key services for the community.”
Measure L-24 would generate approximately $3 million of funding annually that will stay in Atascadero for the repair of neighborhood roads and aging infrastructure, along with other vital government needs such a providing general services, public safety, city programs and more. That funding accounts for about 9% of the city’s 2024-25 annual budget.
Since its inception, the sales tax has funded the maintenance and repair of close to 120 roadway segments costing nearly $23.2 million over 55 miles of neighborhood roads. That is 38% of all city-controlled streets. Atascadero’s overall pavement condition index has increased by nine points — from 47 to 56 on a scale of 100 — with the use of the funds.
““This is a case of promises made, promises kept,” Grigger Jones, chair of the Citizens’ Sales Tax Oversight Committee that meets annually to review the use of the funds, said in the release. “The city has made investments in our community with a focus on our streets, and many roads have seen improvement. But we have more work to do.”
The future of 26 roadway segment projects depended on the availability of funds that Measure L-24 would generate, the city said.
To learn more about the sales tax’s impact, review Oversight Committee reports, and examine current tax-funded projects, visit the city of Atascadero’s website. Additional information on Measure L-24, the Atascadero Local Roads and Vital Services Funding Extension Measure, can also be found at atascadero.org/ballot-measure-l-24.
For any questions regarding the measure, please contact the Atascadero City Clerk’s Office at 805-470-3400 or cityclerk@atascadero.org.
