Fulton voters face county parks-tax vote; Windsor tax is separate

Two Sonoma County-area tax measures are headed to the November 3, 2026, ballot, but they would not affect the same voters or purchases. Fulton residents are included in the countywide proposal to extend an existing parks tax. Windsor is advancing a separate 1% transactions-and-use tax limited to the Town of Windsor.

What Fulton residents would vote on

Sonoma County adopted an ordinance on July 7, 2026, placing a parks, water quality and fire safety tax measure before voters. If approved by at least two-thirds of voters, the measure would extend the existing tax after Measure M expires on March 31, 2029.

The proposed county tax rate is one-eighth of a cent per dollar, or 0.125%. The ordinance says the revenue would support parks and recreation needs, including maintenance, improvements, programs, trails, open-space preserves, water quality and fire-safety work. The expenditure plan also includes funding for parks in unincorporated areas.

Fulton is an unincorporated Sonoma County community. That county jurisdiction is why Fulton residents are included in the countywide vote, assuming the measure remains on the ballot with its current scope and wording.

What Windsor is proposing

Windsor’s Town Council voted July 15, 2026, to place a proposed 1% general transactions-and-use tax on the same November 3 ballot. The council agenda says the measure would require approval by a majority of qualified Windsor voters.

If approved, the Windsor measure would direct an estimated $5.7 million a year to the town’s General Fund. Town materials list services such as emergency response, street repairs, traffic safety, park maintenance and recreation programs. The town says the proposed tax would take effect April 1, 2027, if voters approve it.

The Windsor proposal is separate from Sonoma County’s parks measure. It is limited to the Town of Windsor and does not become a Fulton tax simply because Windsor is nearby. A Fulton resident would not vote on the Windsor measure as a Fulton voter, although applicable sales- and-use-tax rules could affect a taxable purchase or use connected to Windsor if the measure passes.

How the two proposals differ

• Territory: The county parks measure applies across Sonoma County’s incorporated and unincorporated territory, including Fulton. Windsor’s proposal is limited to the town.
• Rate: The county proposal would extend a tax of one-eighth of a cent per dollar, or 0.125%. Windsor is proposing a separate 1% transactions-and-use tax.
• Approval threshold: The county measure requires approval by two-thirds of voters. Windsor’s proposal requires a majority of qualified electors voting on the measure.
• Purpose: The county measure is aimed at parks, recreation, trails, open-space, water-quality and fire-safety needs. Windsor’s measure would support General Fund services.
• Timing: The county measure would begin April 1, 2029, after Measure M expires, if approved. Windsor’s proposed start date is April 1, 2027, if its measure passes.

What to watch next

Neither measure has been approved by voters. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and Windsor Town Council have taken the steps needed to place the proposals on the November 3, 2026, ballot, but final ballot wording, election materials and any later election-authority changes remain important for voters to review.

For Fulton residents, the relevant question is whether the countywide parks-tax extension receives the required two-thirds approval. Windsor residents will separately decide whether to approve the town’s proposed 1% General Fund tax.

Sources

• Sonoma County parks-tax ordinance
• Town of Windsor tax announcement
• Windsor Town Council agenda
• KRCB News