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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPresentation - Item 8 - Ballot Measure Polling ResultsBallot Measure Polling ResultsAgenda Item #8City Manager’s OfficeMarch 17, 2026 Slide 1 Ballot Measure Polling Results March 17, 2026 Ballot Measure Polling ResultsAgenda Item #8City Manager’s OfficeMarch 17, 2026 Slide 2 Background & Recommendation •November 2025 contract awarded to True North for scientific polling •Step 1: baseline poll conducted in December 2025 testing a potential ballot measure to remove the sunset on local sales tax •As reported in November, if the results are positive, staff would return to City Council with a recommendation Tonight’s recommendation: prepare public information materials and a proposed ballot measure, and conduct a tracking survey If approved, staff will schedule a June 2026 agenda item for City Council to consider placing the measure on the November 2026 ballot to let the voters decide Ballot Measure Polling ResultsAgenda Item #8City Manager’s OfficeMarch 17, 2026 Slide 3 Polling Method •Solicited participation using email, phone & text in 3 languages •Completed 623 surveys of likely voters in December 2025 •Margin of error +/-3.9% with a 95% confidence level •Survey included –Warm -up questions, demographics collection –Testing potential ballot measure using format compliant with state law –Testing arguments for and against the ballot measure Ballot Measure Polling ResultsAgenda Item #8City Manager’s OfficeMarch 17, 2026 Slide 4 Polling Results •In an open-ended warm-up question, voters were primarily interested in funding public safety and public works •Initial ballot test was 64% support •Re -test after “arguments for” increased support to 67% •Re -test after “arguments against” decreased support to 63% •Ballot measure would require a simple majority to pass Ballot Measure Polling ResultsAgenda Item #8City Manager’s OfficeMarch 17, 2026 Slide 5 Facts •Potential ballot measure would eliminate the sunset on local sales tax –NO TAX INCREASE •Anaheim hotel tax is $240 million •Irvine property assessments are 318% higher than Santa Ana •Most populated cities in CA: 10 of the 15 have a local sales tax •Westminster, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach have 1.5% local sales tax •One-third (11) of cities in Orange County have local sales tax –No sunset for 8 cities •Santa Ana rate of 9.25% is less than LA County base rate of 9.75% –Two -thirds of cities in LA County have local sales tax for rates ranging from 10.50% to 11.25% Ballot Measure Polling ResultsAgenda Item #8City Manager’s OfficeMarch 17, 2026 Slide 6 Accountability •Citizens’ Oversight Committee –Public meetings –Presentations from independent auditor and sales tax consultant –Candid discussion and questions answered •Annual audit from independent CPA’s •Annual detailed spending plan (current budget pp 72-73) •Annual reports with actual dollars spent at https://www.santa-ana.org/financial-reports/ Ballot Measure Polling ResultsAgenda Item #8City Manager’s OfficeMarch 17, 2026 Slide 7 Local Sales Tax Success (48 pages at Exhibit 2) Ballot Measure Polling ResultsAgenda Item #8City Manager’s OfficeMarch 17, 2026 Slide 8 Questions?