Public Opposition, 3-2 Vote Sink Hesperia’s Proposed 1% Sales Tax

HESPERIA, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A proposal to place a 1% local sales tax increase before Hesperia voters this November failed during the Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Hesperia City Council meeting after the measure fell one vote short of the four affirmative votes required to place it on the ballot.

The motion received a 3-2 vote, with Mayor Bennington, Mayor Pro Tem Pullen, and Council Member Ochoa voting in favor. Council Members Lee and Gregg voted against the proposal.

Although the measure received majority support, it failed because adoption of Resolution No. 2026-32 and introduction of Ordinance No. 2026-01 required approval by four of the City’s five council members. As a result, the proposed Transactions and Use Tax will not appear on the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election ballot. 

Before the vote, numerous residents addressed the City Council during public comment, with many urging council members to reject the proposed tax increase. Speakers voiced concerns about increasing taxes while many families continue to face rising housing, grocery and utility costs. Others questioned whether the City had exhausted existing revenue sources before asking taxpayers to approve an additional sales tax.

The proposal would have increased Hesperia’s total sales tax rate from 7.75% to 8.75% and was projected to generate approximately $15 million annually in locally controlled General Fund revenue. According to the staff report, the funding was intended to help maintain essential city services, improve infrastructure and enhance public safety. 

During the City’s presentation, officials described the proposal as adding one extra penny for every dollar spent on taxable purchases. City staff said the increase would add approximately 10 cents to a $10 purchase, $1 to a $100 purchase and $10 to a $1,000 purchase.

Officials also noted that groceries, prescription medications, diapers and menstrual hygiene products are exempt from California sales tax and would not have been affected by the proposed increase.

City officials also presented a breakdown of the current and proposed sales tax rates. Under the proposal, the State’s 6% share, the 0.25% State Transportation tax and the 0.50% county Measure I tax would have remained unchanged. The additional 1% would have been retained locally by the City of Hesperia, increasing the overall sales tax rate from 7.75% to 8.75%.

Hesperia Sheriff’s Station Captain Jeremy Dean addressed the City Council regarding current law enforcement staffing levels. Dean told council members the Hesperia Police Department is comprised of 62 sworn law enforcement personnel, including one captain, one lieutenant, seven sergeants, six detectives and 47 deputy sheriffs.

Dean said the station maintains a minimum staffing level of five deputies per shift, with staffing generally ranging from five to seven deputies on duty at any given time.

During the presentation, City officials also highlighted staffing challenges, noting Hesperia currently has 0.60 sworn officers per 1,000 residents, compared to the City’s goal of 1.0 officer per 1,000 residents.

According to the presentation, Hesperia’s population has grown from 91,151 in 2010 to an estimated 102,605 in 2026, while sworn staffing has increased from 57 to 62 officers over the same period. Officials estimated the City would need 41 additional officers to meet its staffing goal, at an annual cost of approximately $11.28 million.

According to the staff report, the proposed revenue would have been used to pave and maintain streets, repair potholes, install storm drains and flood control infrastructure, replace aging city infrastructure, keep parks and public facilities safe and well maintained, expand crime prevention efforts and strengthen 911 emergency response services. Because the measure was structured as a general tax, the revenue could have been used for any lawful governmental purpose. 

The report also states the City has pursued several strategies in recent years to improve its long-term financial outlook, including negotiating increased property tax allocations with San Bernardino County, establishing community facilities districts for new development and updating its citywide fee schedule. Officials cited inflation and rising labor, materials and operating costs as continuing to place pressure on the General Fund despite recent revenue growth. 

The City also retained TeamCivX to conduct public outreach and polling regarding a potential Transactions and Use Tax. According to the staff report, polling results presented to the City Council earlier this year found majority support among surveyed registered voters for a local sales tax measure to support city services. 

Had the resolution been approved by the required four council members, the measure would have appeared on the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election ballot, where it would have required approval by a simple majority of voters. Instead, the proposal failed with only three affirmative votes, ending the effort before it could be presented to Hesperia residents.

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