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Citizen-Initiated Measure: Filings and Notices

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Citizens Initiative – Information Page

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An initiative petition is currently circulating in the City proposing to enact a new public safety parcel tax to replace the current Measure E parcel tax.  The initiative proponents/supporters may ask PVE residents to sign the petition in order to qualify it for the ballot.        

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Context
  • This is not a City Council ballot measure. The City Council is not placing anything on the ballot. This is a citizen-initiated effort.
  • In this context, City officials are speaking as individuals and sharing publicly available information about the City’s finances and current services. State law prohibits City officials from advocating for or against the initiative measure in their official capacity or by using City resources. City Councilmembers may, as individual residents on their own time and dime, speak on the initiative.
2. On the Estimated Revenue
  • The revenue estimate of about $16.25 million annually reflects numbers that were discussed publicly when the City was analyzing potential options for a revenue measure earlier this year. Citizen proponents/supporters appear to have based their proposed structure on those publicly presented figures.
  • Because this is not a City Council measure, City Staff has not conducted a new or official financial analysis of this specific proposal. However, because the initiative measure is written as a public safety special tax, any revenue generated would, by law, be legally restricted for public safety purposes, such as PVE police, fire, and emergency response.
  • No decisions about spending proposed tax revenues can be made unless and until the initiative measure qualifies for the ballot and is approved by voters. If it does pass, allocations to public safety would go through the normal public budget process.
3. On Potential Use of Future Revenue
  • If a new public safety parcel tax measure is approved by voters, decisions about how that revenue is used would follow the same budget process that governs City budgeting: staff analysis, study sessions, public hearings, and a final Council vote.
  • At this stage, any discussion about specific public safety uses would be speculative. It’s too early, and legally inappropriate, to make spending commitments before voters have approved the measure.
4. On Current Public Safety Costs
  • Public safety (police, fire, and emergency services) is by far the City’s largest budget category. In the adopted FY 2025–26 budget, these services account for roughly $15.5 million, or about 60% of the General Fund.
  • Specifically, police services are budgeted at approximately $8.23 million, and fire services are about $7.25 million.
5. On Why Additional Revenue Is Being Discussed by the City Council
  • The City currently relies on Measure E, a voter-approved parcel tax adopted in 2018, to help fund local police services. Measure E generates roughly $5.1 million per year, but it expires in 2027.
  • The expiration of Measure E will create a significant structural deficit unless new revenue is identified. Even with ongoing cost-cutting and the use of one-time reserves, expenses are projected to outpace revenues.
6. On Process and Next Steps
  • Because the proposed public safety parcel tax is a citizen-led initiative measure, the City has no role in drafting its terms or structure. Our role is limited to administering the legal and procedural requirements for local initiatives under the State Elections Code. If the measure secures enough petition signatures to qualify for the ballot, PVE voters will ultimately decide whether the measure passes. The City may provide voters with impartial, factual information, but may not advocate for or against the measure.
  • If voters approve the measure, all decisions about how those funds are used will go through the public budgeting process with the City Council.
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Official Documents (PDF)

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Contact

City Clerk’s Office
City of Palos Verdes Estates
Phone: 310-378-0383
Email: cityclerk@pvestates.org
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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