On February 18, 2026 the City Council of the City of Soledad adopted Resolution No. 6329 calling for a municipal election at which it shall submit a tax ballot measure to the qualified voters of the City which, if approved, would establish a special parcel tax to be levied on properties within the City based on land use to fund fire and emergency medical services provided to the City of Soledad. The measure specifies that the new annual parcel tax would be $233.00/single-family unit, $174.00/multi-unit, and $99.00-$134.00 plus $.07 per square foot for non-residential parcels, all adjusted annually in an amount not to exceed 3%, providing approximately $1,000,000 per year. All tax revenues collected by application of the new parcel tax would be used exclusively for 911 emergency medical/fire response and subject to independent audit and oversight of the City’s Tax Citizen’s Oversight Committee. The election is to be consolidated with the June 2, 2026, Statewide Direct Primary Election. Because this is a special tax, in order to be passed the ballot measure must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the voters voting on the measure at the election. The entire text of Resolution No. 6329 and its accompanying ordinance is available online Resolution_No._6329_and_Exhibit_A . The new parcel tax would be collected until ended by the voters.

Written arguments in favor or opposed to the measure may be prepared by the City Council, any member or members of the City Council so authorized by Council action, or any individual voter who is eligible to vote on the measure, or any bona fide association of citizens, or any combination of voters and associations. All arguments must be submitted to the City Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on March 10, 2026. No argument shall exceed three hundred (300) words in length.  A ballot argument may not be accepted unless accompanied by the printed name and signature or printed names and signatures of the author or authors submitting it, or if submitted on behalf of an organization, the name of the organization and the printed name and signature of at least one of its principal officers who is the author of the argument.  No more than five signatures shall appear on any argument.  If more than one argument is submitted for or against the measure, the City Clerk shall select the argument for printing and distribution in accordance with the provisions of Elections Code Section 9287.  Pursuant to Section 9285 of the California Elections Code, when the City Clerk has selected the arguments for and against the measure, which will be printed and distributed to the voters, the City Clerk shall send copies of the argument in favor of the measure to the authors of the argument against, and copies of the argument against to the authors of the argument in favor.  Rebuttal arguments may thereafter be prepared in a length not exceeding two hundred and fifty (250) words and shall be filed with the City Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 18, 2026.  All rebuttal arguments must be accompanied by the Form of Statement to be Filed by Author(s) of Argument as provided for in Elections Code Section 9600.  Rebuttal arguments shall be printed in the same manner as the direct arguments.  Each rebuttal argument shall immediately follow the direct argument which it seeks to rebut.  All written arguments and rebuttals may be changed or withdrawn until the date fixed for final submission to the City Clerk.

You may contact the City Clerk at (831) 223-5014 or dnoriega@cityofsoledad.gov if you have questions regarding this matter.