Napa County Taxpayers Association

Here comes another one. Did not make it for the June Primary, but on track for the November Election. Let's all add another half a percent to our Sales Tax!

Proposed Measures-November 3, 2026
The Napa County Wildfire Preparedness, Watershed Protection and Open Space Preservation Act of 2026
Full Text of the Measure (PDF)
Ballot Title and Summary (PDF)

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/napa/napa-county-salary-how-much/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pd_napa&pupeml=62966

9 Napa County workers made $300,000 or more in 2024. Here’s how that compares to Sonoma County A Napa County sheriff’s sergeant was the highest-paid county employee in 2024, earning nearly $393,000 — including $198,000 in overtime — as new data shows a growing number of public employees crossing the $300,000 mark in total pay.

Time is running out. Mail in or drop off your ballots.

The Napa County Taxpayers Association Endorsements for the November 5th, 2024, Election are as follows:

Measure G - City of Napa 1% Sales Tax Increase
Recommendation: Vote NO

Reason: No specific reason, no end date, based on projected deficits that may occur three to five years from now.

Measure B - School District Bond
Recommendation: Vote NO

Reason: This would be the fourth school bond issue on your property taxes for the same purpose. Continuing to accrue and pay long term interest on facility maintenance creates as snowball effect and leads to deficit spending and more request for future bond issuances.

Measure U - Napa Valley Transportation Authority Restatement of existing 1/2 cent Sales Tax.
Recommendation: Vote NO

Reason: Guts Measure T approved by voters in 2018 to supplement routine road maintenance. Extends the tax by five years, increases Administrative Fees in favor of regional projects, transit subsidies, and other non-road maintenance
Stay the course and fix the roads.

Proposition 5 - Lowers Voter Approval Thresholds for Certain Taxes
Recommendation: Vote NO

Reason: Makes it easier for Politicians and Special Interest Groups to raise your taxes.

The Napa Chamber of Commerce announces its position:

Measure G: OPPOSE

After careful consideration and deliberation, the Napa Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted to oppose Measure G, the City’s proposed increase in local sales tax from 7.75% to 8.75% for the General Fund.



In short, central to the decision to oppose Measure G are the following concerns:

· The sales tax is open-ended as opposed to having a sunset, or expiration date, which could have enabled voters the choice to extend it or not.

· The new rate represents a 13% increase, which is significant especially as local businesses continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic on operations, costs, and hiring and retaining employees.

· It is a general tax requiring only 50% plus one for approval versus a specific tax requiring a 2/3 majority. Without this higher threshold for approval, no guarantees can be made that the funds will be directed consistently to priorities and essential services.

The Napa Chamber takes the City’s request and its financial needs very seriously as we believe a strong partnership with local government is essential to the success of small local businesses and the health of a community. On the other hand, Measure G raises questions about local impacts, budget constraint, oversight, and lack of expiration.



The proposal for the sales tax increase causes us to consider the City’s needs for revenue to serve the general community and our community’s need to minimize tax burdens and maximize tax benefits. We believe the City of Napa is focused on the right task of seeking ways to manage government expenses and grow revenue to fund priorities such as public safety, infrastructure, and social programs.



Unfortunately, Measure G doesn’t offer sufficient assurances and oversight that the additional tax revenue will be allocated to critical community needs, and no guarantees can be made that the funds will be directed consistently to priorities and essential services.



Without those assurances, oversight and guarantees, it is difficult to recommend to our local business members to endorse an increase in sales tax that can have noticeable effects on their consumer’s demand and purchasing power. Likewise, it is difficult to recommend this version of a tax to those who are disproportionately impacted by sales tax, such as seniors on fixed incomes and low-income families.



Rather than propose an open-ended, general sales tax increase without the necessary constraints and controls, the Napa Chamber has shared with the City that we would welcome a chance to work with local leaders and stakeholders on a potential future ballot measure that will provide dedicated funding for community priorities and services like road and sidewalk maintenance, public park improvements, and public safety.



We believe a future sales tax measure that meets both citizen and City needs to fund identified priorities and important City projects would be a better approach than the proposed Measure G.

Any thoughts or comments on this?

In a few short weeks, California voters will have the opportunity to reject several bad ballot measures which threaten their financial security. The worst of these by far is Proposition 5 because it would lower the vote threshold for local bonds from two-thirds to 55%. The two-thirds vote requirement for local general obligation bonds has been in the California Constitution since 1879 as a protection for property owners against excessive debt that must be repaid in the future, sometimes for decades.

The City of Napa is seeking on a 1% sales tax increase. Measure G will increase the Sales Tax to 8.75%. That is a steep increase for no specific reason. Do you think it is needed?

https://mtc.ca.gov/news/bahfa-abag-leaders-issue-statement-withdrawal-housing-bond-measure-november-ballot

BAHFA, ABAG Leaders Issue Statement on Withdrawal of Housing Bond Measure from November Ballot BATA manages tolls from the Bay Area’s state-owned bridges and Express Lanes, and manages the electronic toll payment system, FasTrak®.

Here is a better link to the Bay Area Finance Housing Authority ballot proposition -RM4

https://20billionreasons.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEnuEpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHY1WqcZECJOtk9Zt3oKYUPUUH_B3QRT7RZ6RAy_rujARykCmyAppnBkuoA_aem_1g1TyfXYQJfvCMbM8C0wpA

20 Billion Reasons – to VOTE NO on RM4 RM4 stands for “Regional Measure 4.” It is a proposed new tax that will be on the November 5, 2024, ballot to raise property taxes $48.3 Billion in the nine Bay Area counties (that’s why it is called “Regional”).

It's Election Season again and soon we will be inundated with multiple initivaves on the November 5th 2024 ballot. Let's get the conversations started!
1) City of Napa 1% Sales Tax increase - Measure G
2) Napa Valley Transportation Authority - Measure U. Replaces and Extends Measure T 1/2 cent Sales Tax. Shifts funds away from routine road maintenance in favor of larger regional projects line roundabouts.
3) Napa Unified School District Bond - in addition to the three existing property tax assessments for facility routine maintenance, this will be the second time the School District will attempt to add a fourth bond measure. The last attempt in 2022 was defeated in Napa and approved in American Canyon.

20BillonReasons.com