Ontario council votes to place 0.5¢ sales-tax question on November ballot

The Ontario City Council voted to put a proposed 0.5¢ general sales (transaction/use) tax before voters in the November 3, 2026 municipal election, the council announced after a public-comment period that drew both organized labor supporters and automotive-industry opponents. The measure is framed as a general tax that would fund a range of public services and capital projects; council members and staff said the city cannot raise taxes without voter approval.

City Manager: "The proposed 0.5¢ sales tax to be placed on the November 2026 agenda," the city manager told the council when introducing the item, describing the tax as limited to taxable durable goods and not applied to groceries, medications, rent, utilities or education costs. During discussion council members repeatedly framed the decision as one of letting registered voters decide; the mayor said, "This item is not imposing a tax," and emphasized the ballot is the public’s choice. Mayor and council then recorded a verbal roll call after a motion (mover: Miss Barada; second: Councilmember Bowman) and announced the measure will appear on the ballot.

The council took the action on the deadline explained by the city attorney: the meeting was the county deadline for municipalities to act to place a measure on the November ballot. The council’s vote was conducted by verbal roll call; the meeting record shows affirmative responses from Councilmember Macias, Councilmember Bowman, Councilmember Perrotta and the mayor.