Measure S Seeks To Raise Santee's Sales Tax

SANTEE, CA — Santee voters will decide whether to raise the local sales tax to support the Santee Fire Department.

Measure S, also called the Santee Emergency Safety Protection Ordinance Initiative, would raise the sales tax in the city by half a percent to increase fire safety resources and shorten response times.

The measure, which is estimated to generate about $5.5 million annually, would help design and construct fire stations and a fleet maintenance facility, as well as hire firefighters and pay for fire and life safety operations.

Measure S would also require the City Council to appoint a seven-member oversight committee that would meet at least twice a year to review revenues and expenditures. The city would also have to conduct an annual independent and public audit.

If approved, the half-cent sales tax would sunset in 15 years.

Measure S is a citizen's initiative. A total of 4,585 verified signatures were submitted to place the measure on the November ballot.

An argument filed in favor of Measure S said only 56% of the city can be reached within the four-minute emergency response standard, according to the 2023 Santee Community Risk Assessment. Measure S would help fund new fire stations, six additional full-time firefighter/paramedics, and equipment upgrades to bring 90% of Santee within a four-minute response time.

The argument was co-signed by Mayor John Minto, former City Manager George Tockstein, firefighter Curtis Wilson, Santee Mobile Home Owners Action Committee board member Rose Garner, and resident Kristen Dare.

"Measure S is about keeping Santee citizens in control of our fire safety decisions, rejecting outsider influences, and ensuring our community remains safe and self-reliant," the argument reads in part.

An argument filed against the measure said Santee residents already have one of the highest cost-of-living burdens in the country. The argument claimed Measure S could cost a typical Santee family hundreds more per year in sales tax.

The argument was co-signed by Carl DeMaio, chairman of Reform California; Haney Hong, president and CEO of San Diego County Taxpayers Association; Stevie Esparza, chairman of California Latino Voter Alliance; and Matt Stockton, director of Reform Local Government PAC.

"Your city politicians are trying to fool you and the voters into approving Measure S by putting a misleading ballot title on it," the augment reads in part. "Measure S is actually a massive tax hike to cover up the fiscal failures of city leaders."

As a special tax proposed by initiative petition, Measure S requires majority voter approval to pass.

Voters can learn more about the measure, and others on ballots across the region, on the county's election website.