Palmdale Voters to Consider Measure to Save Tax Revenues for Local Community

PALMDALE, CA - The Palmdale City Council unanimously voted to place Measure PD: Palmdale Essential Services Protection Measure on the November election ballot. If approved by a majority of voters, Measure PD would empower the City to automatically absorb any available redirection of funds, so that additional sales tax revenue stays in Palmdale instead of being diverted to the State of California or County of Los Angeles. Palmdale residents will consider the measure on the November 2024 General Election ballot.

"Measure PD, if approved by our community, would make it so that new tax rate capacities are not redirected to the State of California or County of Los Angeles and instead stay local in Palmdale to fund general services such as public safety, street maintenance and addressing homelessness," said Mayor Austin Bishop. "On the other hand, if the measure is not approved, new capacities could be redirected to the State or County in the future."

If a majority of voters approve the measure, the City would automatically exhaust the tax capacity if additional capacity becomes available. For example, if a County tax ends and an additional 0.25% within the maximum allowed sales tax becomes available, then this measure - if adopted - would automatically redirect the 0.25% to Palmdale. In doing so, it would also prevent other agencies from attempting to take the revenue outside the Palmdale community.

"Of course, if Palmdale voters were to approve the measure, community oversight of the measure would be in place to ensure any potential future revenues are used appropriately and efficiently," said Mayor Pro Tem Richard J. Loa. "Transparency is important and a priority for our City. I encourage our community to learn more about the measure on our informational website page and keep an eye out for additional educational resources."

A community oversight committee would regularly review revenues and expenditures from the redirection of funds to ensure funds collected are expended appropriately.

For more information, please visit www.PalmdaleMeasurePD.org.