Measure U

In November 2018, Placentia voters overwhelmingly approved Measure U, a 1% sales tax increase to help fund the cost of much-needed infrastructure repairs and maintenance as well as public safety and other critical services. Measure U sales tax increase began collection on April 1, 2019. For the first time in many years, the City will be able to fund much-needed road and infrastructure repairs. The City Council has allocated a total of $3.2 million in Measure U, SB 1 Gas Tax, and Measure M proceeds to continue funding street repairs and maintenance for the Fiscal Year 2019-2020. Projects over the next year include repaving more than 1 million square feet of pavement and slurry sealing more than 4.3 million square feet of residential streets and sidewalk/curb improvements. 

Measure U will allow the City to fund services at levels consistent with the community’s priorities and the public’s desired quality of life and would prevent the need for further significant cuts to vital City services and programs. To ensure the Measure U funds are spent accordingly, the Placentia City Council voted unanimously (5-0) to update the Reserve Policy to include guidelines for appropriating new ongoing or one-time unrestricted revenues to be used for specific purposes, as shown in the table below. “New Ongoing Revenues” are defined as a new general tax, an increase in the rate of an existing general tax (such as Measure U), a new lease of City property, or other new, clearly identifiable unrestricted revenue source not previously included in the City’s budget at the time of adoption of this policy, which generates at least $100,000 per year in revenue and is expected to continue for at least a period of 20 years.