The action came at the council’s June 9 meeting. The measure has not been enacted, and the City of Highland’s financial-outlook materials do not identify the final tax rate or exact ballot language. The available materials also do not establish whether voters will approve it.

Measure follows February study session

The council previously held a Feb. 10, 2026, study session on a possible local sales-tax measure. Study materials considered two options: a half-cent increase or a one-cent increase.

Those options remain part of the measure’s background, not a confirmed final rate. The city’s financial-outlook page says the council later approved putting a local sales-tax measure before voters, but it does not state which rate will appear on the ballot.

That distinction matters for residents and businesses evaluating the proposal. Until the official ballot measure specifies the rate and tax language, the financial effect of the proposal cannot be stated more precisely.

Public-safety costs have increased

Highland says it currently employs 46 police personnel and 31 fire personnel. The city’s projected five-year cost for law-enforcement services increased from approximately $88 million to $102 million for the 2025-2030 period.

Projected fire-protection costs also increased, from approximately $46.4 million to $47 million over the same period. The figures are projections for future service costs, rather than a report of final spending.

The city identifies public safety as one of the areas connected to its long-term financial outlook. The materials reference local police and fire staffing as officials assess the city’s future revenue and service needs.

Capital needs include bridge replacements

Highland also says nearly $225 million in needs have been identified for its five-year capital-improvement program. That figure represents identified capital needs; the available information does not say that every listed project would be funded by the proposed sales tax.

Among the bridge projects listed by the city are replacement work for Base Line Bridge over City Creek and Orange Street Bridge over Plunge Creek. The city’s financial-outlook materials place those projects within a broader set of capital-improvement needs.

The scale of that list helps explain why the ballot measure is being considered as a public-finance issue, not only as a question of tax rates. Highland is weighing a possible local revenue source against projected public-safety costs and infrastructure needs that extend across several years.

What happens next

The next known date is the Nov. 3, 2026, election, when Highland voters are scheduled to consider the measure. Before then, the final ballot rate and tax language will need to be identified in the official measure.

For now, the confirmed development is the council’s decision to place the proposal before voters. The June 9 action starts the election process; it does not itself create a new tax or determine the outcome.

The latest city status list, updated July 30, shows Jimmy Saldana’s nomination papers issued and returned for District 2. For District 4, Jason Isaacs is listed with returned papers and a qualified designation, while Christy Marin is listed with papers issued.

Highland’s November 3, 2026, general municipal election will include the two council contests. The City Council has also approved placing a proposed transactions-and-use tax measure before voters.

What the latest list shows

The July 30 document is explicitly unofficial, so it should be read as a filing-status snapshot rather than a final certified candidate roster.

For District 2, the list shows Saldana, identified as the incumbent, with nomination papers issued July 13 and returned July 30. The document does not show a qualified date for him.

For District 4, Isaacs is listed with papers issued July 21, returned July 28 and marked qualified July 29. Marin is listed with papers issued July 29, but the document shows no returned or qualified date for her.

Those entries describe different points in the filing process. Papers issued means the city provided nomination documents to a prospective candidate. Papers returned means documents were submitted to the city. A qualified entry means the city recorded that status for the filing. None of the three descriptions, by itself, should be treated as a final certified ballot roster while the city process is still underway.

What to watch after the deadline

The city’s elections page says the nomination period opened Monday, July 13, at 8 a.m., and closes Friday, August 7, at 5 p.m. The City Clerk serves as Highland’s elections official and filing officer for the required documents.

Additional filings or status changes may occur before the deadline. Residents should use the city’s election page for updated information as the filing period ends and the city moves toward its later certification steps.

Proposed tax measure would add 1%

City Council Resolution 2026-040 approved placing a general transactions-and-use tax measure on the November 3 ballot. The proposed rate is 1%, described in the proposed ballot language as one cent on each dollar of taxable sales.

The resolution estimates that the measure would generate approximately $6.35 million annually for the city’s general fund if approved. The city’s stated purposes include maintaining funding for police, fire and emergency services and repairing or improving critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, drainage and the 5th Street Corridor Interchange.

Because it is a general tax, the measure would require approval by a majority of Highland voters voting on the question. The resolution says it would remain in effect until repealed by voters.

Key date for Highland voters

Residents of Districts 2 and 4 should monitor Highland’s election updates during the final filing week. The immediate checkpoint is Friday, August 7, 2026, at 5 p.m.

The July 30 list may change before the city completes its review and certification. For now, it is the latest published snapshot of the two council contests, while the proposed local tax measure remains part of the November ballot picture.

Sources

• Unofficial Candidate Status List, July 30, 2026

The examination period for the measure’s text, primary arguments and the city attorney’s impartial analysis runs through Thursday, July 30. The City of Highland says physical copies are available at City Hall, 27215 Base Line, and that the measure materials and related documents are available through its elections page and financial-outlook page.

What voters can review

The public review materials include the arguments submitted for and against the measure, along with the impartial analysis prepared by the city attorney. The analysis is intended to explain the measure’s effect and operation in neutral terms.

The city’s public notice also says voters may request a copy of the ordinance or measure from the City Clerk’s Office.

What the proposal would do

The measure would establish a 1% transactions-and-use tax on applicable retail sales in Highland. The City Council describes it as a general tax, meaning the revenue would go into the city’s general fund rather than being restricted to one narrowly defined project or program.

City documents estimate that the measure could generate approximately $6.35 million annually. That is a city estimate, not a guaranteed amount: revenue would depend on taxable sales, and the measure would not take effect unless voters approve it.

The proposed ballot language says the revenue could help maintain police, fire and emergency services and improve critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, drainage, the 5th Street Corridor interchange and other improvement projects. Those are stated purposes in the city resolution; they do not guarantee that specific projects or spending allocations would be funded.

Why the city is presenting the measure

Highland’s financial-outlook materials point to rising public-safety contract costs, roadway maintenance needs and long-term capital-improvement pressures. The city says it contracts with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement and CAL FIRE for fire protection and emergency response, with those contracts expected to increase annually.

The same city materials say Highland is responsible for more than 159 miles of roadway, has more than $94 million in needed street repairs and faces nearly $225 million in identified needs over the next five years of its capital-improvement program. They also identify storm-drain projects and proposed interchange work as infrastructure needs.

Those figures provide the fiscal context cited by the city for presenting the measure. They describe current and anticipated pressures, not spending that has already been approved through this proposed tax.

What happens next

The City Council approved placing the measure on the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election ballot at its June 9 meeting. Under the resolution, the proposed general tax must receive approval from a majority of qualified Highland voters voting on the question before it can take effect.

For now, the proposal remains undecided. Residents who want to evaluate it before the election can review the ballot measure text, arguments, impartial analysis and related election documents during the public examination period, which ends July 30.

Sources

• Notice of Public Examination Periods

City officials this week posted a new fire hazard severity map for public review, marking an important step in a state-required update process. The map outlines areas considered to have elevated wildfire risk and is intended to guide future planning, building standards, and emergency preparedness.

Residents are encouraged to review the map and share comments before it is formally adopted by the City Council. Officials note that the map itself does not immediately change insurance requirements or property taxes, but it can influence long-term safety policies.

Public feedback will be accepted ahead of a scheduled council hearing later this winter, giving homeowners and business owners time to understand how the designations may affect them.

Wildfire Preparedness Guidance Reposted

County emergency management agencies also refreshed online wildfire preparedness resources serving Highland and nearby foothill communities. The guidance focuses on evacuation readiness, defensible space around homes, and planning for pets and livestock.

Officials emphasize that even outside peak fire season, preparation remains critical due to dry conditions and periodic wind events that can elevate risk with little notice.

Residents are reminded to maintain emergency kits, sign up for local alerts, and review evacuation routes before they are needed.

Why This Matters Locally

Highland’s location near open land and mountain terrain makes fire planning a recurring priority. Recent reminders from city and county agencies reflect a broader effort to keep residents informed and prepared rather than reactive.

City staff say more localized safety updates are expected throughout the year as state guidance and regional conditions evolve.

Sources

• https://www.highlandca.gov/363/Fire-Hazard-Severity-Zone-Map
• https://prepare.sbcounty.gov
• https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/9/5/line-fire