Santa Ana council sends Measure X sales-tax decision to voters
Santa Ana’s City Council voted 5-2 to put Measure X on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot, giving voters a choice over the city’s 9.25% sales-tax rate.
Politics & Government
Elections, public policy, government decisions, budgets, regulation, ethics, civil rights, and public administration.
-
-
Stockton approves police, fire labor contracts after yearlong talks
Stockton City Council approved long-term police, fire and public-safety management contracts July 7 after nearly a year of negotiations.
-
Colorado Springs Announces Municipal Court, Economic Development Changes
Mayor Yemi Mobolade announced leadership transitions affecting Municipal Court and Economic Development, including Judge William Kane’s planned retirement.
-
Mesa voters will decide on proposed $150 million safety bond
Mesa’s Nov. 3 ballot will ask voters to authorize a proposed $150 million public-safety bond, with the ballot-argument deadline now complete.
-
El Paso Opens Filing for Four City Council Seats
Candidate filing is open for El Paso City Council Districts 1, 5, 6 and 8 ahead of the November 3, 2026, general election.
-
Royal Oak ballot included public-safety and sanitation millages
Royal Oak voters faced two city millage proposals Aug. 4, including a public-safety measure that could raise the annual cost by about $119.
-
Highland Sales-Tax Measure Set for November 2026 Ballot
Highland’s City Council approved a local sales-tax measure for the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot as officials point to public-safety and infrastructure needs.
-
Haitians in Springfield lose federal protection after court action
Haitians in Springfield are facing uncertainty over deportation protection and work authorization after a federal court allowed TPS to end Aug. 5.
-
Cupertino Sets FY 2026-27 Budget Priorities With $200,000 Housing Allocation
Cupertino’s FY 2026-27 budget priorities include $200,000 for RISE Housing and a 3% raise for covered bargaining-unit employees.
-
Bowie Begins Review of Proposed 2026-27 City Budget
Bowie’s city manager presented the proposed 2026-27 budget to the City Council, starting a review process that includes a public hearing and workshop.
-
Garland Sets Town Halls Ahead of Possible November Tax Election
Garland will hold public town halls about a possible November tax-rate-reduction election before the City Council’s expected budget vote Aug. 17.
-
Chesapeake puts data-center applications on hold for up to eight months
Chesapeake City Council approved a temporary hold on data-center permit and zoning applications while officials develop local rules for future proposals.
-
Buffalo Releases Budget Plan to Address Structural Deficit
Mayor Sean Ryan has released Buffalo’s proposed 2026–2027 budget as the city faces a bond-rating downgrade and ongoing fiscal pressure.
-
Fort Wayne council sets Aug. 11 vote on homeless resource center
Fort Wayne City Council is expected to revisit a proposal for $2.75 million in public funding for a downtown homeless resource center on Aug. 11.
-
Chula Vista Council Pushes Government Overhaul Toward November Ballot
Chula Vista officials were working toward an Aug. 7 deadline for a proposed November ballot measure covering council pay, terms and committee powers.
-
Jersey City advances $886.5M budget with proposed 15.5% tax hike
Jersey City Council advanced an $886.5 million 2026 budget while hearings continued on a proposed 15.5% tax increase and public-safety spending.
-
St. Paul authorizes $1.08 million ahead of encampment closures
St. Paul authorized $1.08 million for expanded capacity and services as the city prepares to close encampments, beginning with Pig’s Eye Park on Aug. 5.
-
Lexington approves FY 2026 budget with sidewalk and safety funding
Lexington’s Urban County Council approved a nearly $1 billion FY 2026 budget, including $400,000 for unsafe sidewalk repairs and public-safety funding.
-
Anaheim adopts 2026-27 budget as debt payoff nears
Anaheim City Council approved the 2026-27 budget, preserving public services as visitor-economy revenue improves and debt retirement approaches.
-
Wichita schedules Aug. 7 hearing on 2026 budget and tax rate
Wichita’s City Council is scheduled to hold the first formal 2026 budget hearing Aug. 7, with more hearings set for Aug. 19 and Aug. 26.
-
Oakland Council Advances Foreclosure-Transfer-Tax Measure for November Ballot
The Oakland City Council voted to place a foreclosure-transfer-tax measure and related homelessness-services advisory question before voters Nov. 3, 2026.
-
Long Beach after-school contract ending, putting 80-plus jobs at risk
Long Beach is ending its role in before- and after-school services through Long Beach Unified, putting more than 80 city jobs at risk by Aug. 15.