The Canyon Lake Citizens for Public Safety group successfully gathered more than 1,000 signatures from registered Canyon Lake voters, securing their Public Safety Fund Initiative for November’s election ballot. The Riverside County Registrar of Voters has designated the measure as “Measure Z.”
Measure Z aims to create a new Public Safety Fund dedicated to funding Canyon Lake safety services.
If approved by a majority of the Canyon Lake voters, Measure Z would implement a 0.75% retail transactions and use (sales) tax within the city. This 0.75% tax translates to 0.75¢ (less than 1 cent) for every dollar spent on taxable goods. Exempted from sales tax are unprocessed groceries, rent, prescription medicine, and personal services such as medical, dental, and legal. If approved, the city council would be required to direct revenue from new sales taxes into the Public Safety Fund.
Even with the proposed increase, Canyon Lake’s sales tax would remain lower than neighboring cities like Menifee, Lake Elsinore, and Murrieta. Surrounding cities’ voters approved separate one-cent sales tax increases starting in 2016 to help cover their respective costs.
Additionally, if Measure Z passes, it would establish a cannabis business tax with an initial rate of 6%. The Canyon Lake City Council would have the authority to increase the cannabis business tax up to a maximum rate of 8% without a further vote of the people. This tax is a restricted-use tax and can only be used for public safety services.
If approved, Measure Z would restrict proceeds from the already established Utility Users Tax (UUT) on sewer and water services and the Emergency Medical Services Program (EMS), ensuring that these funds are used exclusively for public safety services. It would legally bind the city council to place the revenue collected by the water and sewer UUT and the EMS Program into a newly formed Public Safety Fund.
The “Yes on Z Campaign,” made up of business and community leaders as well as retired police officers and firefighters, says that the measure is necessary because the City of Canyon Lake’s revenue has not kept pace with the growing costs of providing services, and lawsuits seeking to cut off existing revenue threaten the city’s ability to provide a high level of public safety services.
Canyon Lake has historically struggled to keep up with public safety costs, and city staff expects these financial pressures to intensify. According to the city manager’s office, contract costs with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for police services are projected to increase by 27% over the next five years, rising from $2 million this year to more than $2.5 million by 2029. The city has yet to identify any new revenue sources to cover the rising costs and expressed concerns about potentially losing revenue streams.
“Public Safety has been, and will remain, the priority for the City of Canyon Lake,” City Manager Arron Brown said. “The rising costs must be addressed with some offsetting revenue. This city council remains innovative and will continue to look for trailblazing ways of bringing revenue to the City. This Measure Z Citizen Initiative is supported by our Canyon Lake Fire Association and Riverside Sheriff Association and if passed will address many of our immediate concerns with dedicated revenue to the city for the sole purpose of public safety.”
The city estimates that Measure Z would generate an additional $855,000 a year for public safety services.
If approved, the tax would remain in effect until ended by Canyon Lake voters voting at a subsequent election. All revenues raised by the tax would remain in the city and would not be shared with the state, county, or any other agency. The revenues and expenditures generated by the tax would be subject to the same independent audit requirements as other city revenues.
For more information on Measure Z, visit www.canyonlakepublicsafety.org.
