San Gabriel Valley and Whittier-area voters have many choices to make on this November’s ballot. But it’s not just candidates that they have to choose from. It’s measures.
From Duarte to Monterey Park, and from Santa Fe Springs to Puente Hills, voters are being asked to weigh in on an array of local measures, from upgrading local schools to enhancing infrastructure and public safety.
Many of the measures involve bond measures, basically local governments asking voters for a loan. Other measures asking voters to approve tax increases, some on sales, some on property, to help fund what many officials say are essential upgrades.
In Pasadena, for instance, a measure asks voters to approve a bond that would fund the retrofitting of its beloved Central Library. In Puente Hills, the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority is asking voters in the Whittier area to approve a new special building tax that to help in fire and habitat prevention in an area that includes the Whittier Hills.
Arcadia
AS – Arcadia Unified School District School Safety/Repair Measure
Measure AS would fund updates for different Arcadia Unified School District facilities to make repairs, technology upgrades and other improvements. The funds would be paid over time, with property owners paying roughly $60 for every $100,000 their property is worth, generating $23 million annually. Teachers, parents, the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce and the Arcadia Board of Education support the measure.
Azusa
ZZ – City of Azusa Public Safety, Community Services, Local Control/ Accountability Measure
This measure, if approved, would add a ¼ of-a-cent sales tax to improve local infrastructure. This would generate around $2.5 million each year to help fund helping with homelessness, fix roads, improve parks, afterschool programs, firefighters, police and other city services.
Duarte
QQ (Cannabis Retail Sales and Tax)
This would allow the City to permit two storefronts that sell cannabis (marijuana) and if so, to tax them up to 10% of what they sell. This would add up to about $2.5 million per year and would help fund city services.
East Whittier School District – C General Obligation Bond
This measure seeks to improve facilities in the East Whittier City School District. The funds would improve roofs, plumbing, electrical and ventilation. It would also be used to upgrade classrooms, labs, facilities and technology. To fund the bonds, local property owners would pay 3 cents for every $100 their property is worth, which would add up to about $6 million per year. Mayor Joe Vinatieri supports this measure along with City Councilwoman Catherine Warner.
El Monte
EM – Keep El Monte Sales Tax Revenues Local
Measure EM would increase the city of El Monte’s sales tax from .5% to .75%, generating $3.5 million annually, to fund city services such as fire protection; graffiti removal; street and sidewalk repair; park maintenance and enhancements; youth and senior programs; building “rainy day” reserves and other general governmental purposes.
El Monte
ME – El Monte City School District- General Bond
To fund improvements and repairs for elementary schools in the El Monte City School District. The funds would go toward modernizing classrooms; expanding outdoor learning and green spaces; improving performing arts facilities, repairing school structures and enhancing school safety. Property owners would pay $30 per $100,000, their property is worth.
Glendora
Z
To maintain and enhance city services, the city of Glendora would replace Los Angeles County’s Measure H, if voters approve a one-quarter-percent transaction and use tax. This would add up to $3 annually in general revenue for Glendora to be used to help with public safety, homelessness, roads/streets and quality of life issues. Supported by Glendora City Council.
Irwindale
IR
To fund services like police and firefighters, helping the elderly, fixing roads, keeping libraries and parks open and cleaning up homeless encampments, the city of Irwindale is asking for additional government funding by a new transactions and use tax of .75%, generating $1 million annually for improvements.
Los Nietos School District – Repair and Update Measure
RU
This would fund complete renovations on local schools in the Los Nietos School District, through $28.5 million in bonds. Renovation and construction plans include updating aging classrooms, repairing leaky roofs/windows and removing asbestos/lead and other hazardous materials. The bond would be paid by a property tax at $30 per $100,000 that the property is worth, generating $2.1 million annually.
Los Nietos School District
ST – Safety and Technology Measure
To fund improvements for schools in the Los Nietos School District, a $26.5 million bond is being proposed. The money would go toward improving school technology, including learning technology and security systems. The bond would be paid by a property tax at $28 per $100,000 assessed property value. Citizens would oversee the budget and there would be annual audits.
Montebello
RR
A measure is asking voters on whether to recall Angie Jimenez, a District 5 councilmember in Montebello.
Monterey Park
BE – Business License Tax
The measure seeks to update business tax rates, without increasing taxes on residents, by making businesses pay 0.00075 per $1000 of gross receipts ($75 yearly minimum tax) to bring in $1.2 million per year for city services.
Monterey Park
LG – Transient Occupancy Tax
The measure would raise the city of Monterey’s Park’s transient occupancy tax paid by hotel/motel and short-term regal guests in order to maintain 911 emergency response and fire protection, increase neighborhood police patrols, maintain parks, support youth, afterschool and senior programs and repairing streets and potholes. Short-term guests would pay 12% to 13% of the cost of their stay, providing approximately $500,000 in funding annually.
Mt. San Antonio Community College District
V – Safety, Repair, Career, Training, Affordable Education Measure
Mt. San Antonio Community College District is requesting funding to upgrade education through a bond, funded by property owners paying $15 per $100,000 their property is worth. To maintain quality education by upgrading student safety, science labs, nursing/healthcare, classrooms, leaky roofs, removing asbestos, lead paint and mold, providing safe drinking water and retaining quality teachers.
Pasadena
PL – Pasadena Central Library Earthquake Retrofit, Repair, Upgrade Measure
To strengthen the Pasadena Central Library structure to protect and prevent earthquake damage along with other upgrades, a bond is being proposed. Additional upgrades include replacing the leaky roof, removing asbestos/mold/lead paint, updating outdated technology and restoring library services. The bond would be funded via a property tax which would be $28.90 per $100,000 what property is worth.
Pasadena
PA
This would alter the Pasadena City Charter, Article IV, to require special elections to fill City Council vacancies if there are two or more years remaining in the term or if the City Council does not get somebody to fill a vacancy within 75 days. This would also instate a 30-day residency requirement for people appointed to office.
Pasadena
PB
This amendment of the Pasadena City Charter would change the role, length of term and timing of selection for the vice mayor position, as well as create an acting mayor position if the mayor’s seat becomes vacant and sets the city council organizational meeting to occur annually in December.
Pasadena
PC
This amendment of the Pasadena City Charter would implement term limits for members of the City Council and the mayor, allowing elected officials to serve no more than three consecutive terms in that elected office. Individuals can serve up to an additional two terms can be served following a four-year break from the elected office. Altogether, the mayor and the councilmembers are limited to no more than five total terms in the same elected office.
Pasadena
PF
To update the selection process for the positions of Fire and Police Trustees to the retirement board and the Pasadena Fire and Police retirement system. This would not result in a cost to voters, since the retirement board trustees do not receive compensation, nor would it result in new or additional retirement benefits for FPRS members since this measure does not change member retirement benefits.
Pasadena
PR
PR would amend the Fair and Equitable Housing provisions in Pasadena City Charter Article XVII, including clarifying penalties and updating dates and deadlines and making minor corrections. Measure PR will also provide a partial exemption to government-subsidized rental units from rent control law and establish a process for Rental Housing Board Member removal.
Pasadena
Pasadena Unified School District
R – General Obligation Bond
This bond measure would expand science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) classrooms, upgrade Career Education labs, replace leaky roofs, repair electrical, plumbing heating and air-conditioning systems through a $900 million bond which would be funded through property taxes of $59 per $100,000 assessed value of the property.
Pasadena
Pasadena Unified School District
EE
EE would expand programs for science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM); enhance career training and college readiness courses, provide competitive wages for teachers and staff in addition to providing funding to hire counselors and mental health professionals. It would impose $90 per parcel on homeowners for eight years, raising $5 million annually.
Pomona
Y
Measure would amend the Pomona City Charter to require at least 10% of the City’s annual general purpose revenue be allocated for children and youth programs and services by fiscal year 2030-2031. In addition, also establish a City Department of Children and Youth to administer funding for said programs and services.
Pomona United School District – General Obligation Bond
UU
To upgrade classrooms and labs, repair leaky roofs, deteriorated classrooms, plumbing, gas/electrical/sewer systems, provide safe drinking water, remove asbestos, mold, and lead paint and improve school security/safety. $900 million of bond funding will come from a $59 property tax on properties per $100,000 the property is worth.
Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority
PH
This measure seeks to preserve protect local natural lands by clearing emergency access roads for first responders and brush that could lead to forest fires, prevent and remove homeless encampments, vandalism and illegal dumping and maintain park ranger patrols for fire safety. This would be funded through a special tax of one cent per building square foot for both residents and businesses that would affect Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, La Habra Heights and Whittier.
Rio Hondo Community College District
RH
To establish locally-controlled funding to make repairs, technology upgrades and other improvements at Rio Hondo College facilities. Local property owners would pay $25 per $100,000 of assessed value. The typical homeowner in the Rio Hondo Community College District would pay about $91 per year or $7.58 per month.
San Gabriel USD – General Obligation Bond
SG
SG would extend the current tax rate approved by voters at $60 per $100,000 of assessed value as long as bonds are outstanding to make repairs, technology upgrades and other improvements for schools in the San Gabriel United School District. There is no tax rate increase with this measure.
San Marino
SM
To continue the Special Public Safety Tax for Paramedic Services, Fire Protection and Prevention and Police Protection in the city of San Marino, estimated to generate $3.7 million annually, subject to a cost of living increase until 2029.
San Marino Unified School District
M
Measure M seeks to establish locally controlled funding through bonds to make repairs, technology upgrades and other improvements at San Marino Unified School District facilities. Local property owners would pay $60 per $100,000 of assessed value to fund the upgrades, generating $11.9 million annually.
Santa Fe Springs
SFS
SFS seeks to make street repairs and protect groundwater through an ordinance that does not tax residential property. Funding will come through a parcel tax of 7 cents per square foot of commercial lots and 3 1/2 cents per square foot of industrial/vacant lots for 25 years. The ordinance would fund $6 million annually.
Sierra Madre
PS
PS seeks to fund and maintain police, fire, and paramedic costs by imposing a public safety special tax from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2032, to raise approximately $2 million yearly. Single-family residential parcels – $480 per parcel per year,-Multifamily residential parcels – $576 per parcel per year, and – Non-residential parcels – $660 per parcel per year.
South El Monte
SEM
SEM would replace “Measure H” a county-controlled 0.25% sales tax, with a sales tax of the same rate, this measure would generate $1.6 million annually for South El Monte general services, including public safety, housing programs, parks and recreation, homelessness prevention and road repairs. It would begin when Measure H ends and would continue until repealed by voters.
South Pasadena – South Pasadena Neighborhood Preservation, Local Control
SP
This measure would lead to an ordinance to not allow 45-foot-high buildings in all single-family residential zones, maintain local control over local land use, retain/attract local businesses, and restrict multi-unit housing in order to protect South Pasadena’s single-family neighborhood residential character.
Whittier City School District – General Obligation Bond
W
This would establish locally controlled funding through bonds to make repairs, technology upgrades and other improvements at Whittier City School District facilities. Local property owners would pay $30 per $100,000 of assessed value to fund the upgrades, generating $5.4 million annually.
