Oceanside’s City Council on Wednesday will consider whether to place another half-cent sales tax measure on the ballot in November.
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City staffers say the money is needed for several important unfunded capital projects, including replacing the century-old Pier View Way bridge that leads to the wooden municipal pier, the Re:Beach sand replenishment proposal, the construction of a new fire station, and a new headquarters building for the Police Department.
“A general purpose tax increase of one-half percent (0.50%) is recommended, with a 10-year sunset,” states a staff report prepared for the City Council. “This increase is projected to generate an estimated $20 million per year in additional revenues over the 10-year life of the measure; with actual revenues determined by economic conditions.”
Oceanside’s current sales tax is is 8.25%, which includes a statewide rate of 7.25%, a San Diego County district tax of 0.5% for the TransNet program that funds regional transportation projects, and the 0.50% local sales tax known as Measure X.
Measure X is a half-cent sales tax that Oceanside voters initially approved Nov. 6, 2018, to raise millions of dollars annually for public safety, homeless assistance and other high-priority services.
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In November 2024, Oceanside approved a 10-year extension of Measure X with 60% of the vote.
Nine other cities in San Diego County have higher sales tax rates, according to the Oceanside staff report. Eight of them are at 8.75%, which includes a 1% local rate approved by the cities on top of the state and county taxes. One city, La Mesa, is at 8.5% with 0.75% from a local tax measure.
The Oceanside City Council needs four votes from its five members, which is a two-thirds majority, to place the measure on the ballot. Once on the ballot, the measure would need a simple majority, or 50% plus one vote, citywide to pass. If approved in November, the new rate would be 8.75%.
Projects city officials say could be fully or partially funded by the proposed measure are: the construction of Fire Station No. 8, estimated at $35 million, to replace a too-small, leased building used now; the Re:Beach sand replenishment, $60 million, a pilot project to restore beach sand and build two headlands and an artificial reef to retain the sand; construction of the Pier View Way Bridge, $50 million, to replace the century-old, concrete-and-steel walkway, ramps and building that connect the wooden municipal pier to Pacific Street; road repairs and resurfacing, for an initial $8 million and then $5 million annually; and construction of a new Oceanside Police Department headquarters building, $100 million, to replace the converted strip-mall grocery store the department has occupied for 25 years.
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