San Marcos is a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family, and retire, offering its residents a high quality of life. Our city is among the best-managed in the county, frequently ranks as one of the safest in California, and boasts a fire department with a coveted top-rated ISO Public Protection Classification of Class 1, the highest rating available.
However, the costs of delivering state-of-the-art services, ensuring robust public safety (Fire and Sheriff), recruiting qualified staff, and maintaining roads and parks are now outpacing city revenues, and it is important that we address it.
What is Measure Q?
In June, the San Marcos City Council unanimously voted to place Measure Q on the November ballot. Measure Q proposes a one-cent sales tax for purchases made within San Marcos (with exemptions for groceries, medicine, and feminine hygiene products).
If approved, this measure would generate the necessary ongoing revenue the city needs to sustain the levels of services we rely on and have come to expect.
It’s critical to ensure our firefighters, paramedics, and other public safety professionals have the resources they need to respond swiftly to an increasing volume of 911 calls. Our 200 miles of streets, 100 miles of aging storm drains, and 300 acres of parks require regular maintenance. With rising operational costs, funding from Measure Q will ensure that our city has the staff and resources needed to keep San Marcos safe, clean, and well-maintained into the future.
It is important to note that all funds raised by Measure Q will stay in San Marcos and cannot be taken by the state or the county. Additionally, Measure Q will include strict fiscal accountability measures, including an independent oversight committee and a 10-year sunset clause.
Measure Q has garnered widespread community support. The San Marcos Firefighters Association, San Diego County Taxpayers Association, Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of San Diego County, San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, San Marcos Boys & Girls Club, Friends of San Marcos Parks & Recreation, and hundreds of local residents and business owners have endorsed Measure Q.
As election day approaches, we need your support too.
Join our community in voting YES on Q by mail or in person on Nov. 5 to keep San Marcos safe and strong.
For more information about Measure Q, visit www.safeandstrongsanmarcos.org.
Randy Walton
San Marcos
