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Measure FD: Fire Department sales tax

Funding for the Los Angeles Fire Department Through a One-Half Percent Sales Tax

Initiative Ordinance. A city law that voters put on the ballot by signing petitions.

In plain English

Measure FD would add a one-half percent sales tax in Los Angeles. The rate would go from 10.25% to 10.75%. The tax would raise about $345 million a year. The money would supplement Fire Department funding through a special fund. It could pay for staff, vehicles, equipment, fire stations, and brush clearance. A five-member citizens' committee would review spending. The fund would be audited each year. The tax could be collected in a year only if the City meets a Fire Department funding baseline. That baseline is the department's average share of the discretionary budget in the ten years before the tax begins. The tax would continue unless voters repeal it or the City misses its budget obligations.

A YES VOTE MEANS

You want to establish a 0.5% sales tax to provide additional funding for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

A NO VOTE MEANS

You do not want to establish a 0.5% sales tax to provide additional funding for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Official text in English. Get official election materials in Spanish from LA County.

Source: official voter guide

Official ballot label

The exact words on your ballot. Tap to read.
FUNDING FOR THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT THROUGH A ONE-HALF PERCENT SALES TAX. INITIATIVE ORDINANCE FD. Shall an ordinance providing funding for the Los Angeles Fire Department, including for hiring firefighters, paramedics, and other staff, purchasing and maintaining vehicles and equipment, building and upgrading fire stations, and brush clearance; by imposing a one-half percent (0.5%) sales tax in the City of Los Angeles; with annual audits and a citizen's oversight committee; generating approximately $345 million annually until ended by voters; be adopted?
Source: LA County Registrar, measures on the ballot

Official text in English. Get official election materials in Spanish from LA County.

Official arguments

Arguments written by supporters and opponents and printed in the official voter pamphlet. The full text is only in the PDF.

Argument for

Signed by:

  • Doug Coates, President, United Firefighters of LA City
  • Jaime Moore, Fire Chief, Los Angeles Fire Department
  • Eric Gonzalez, Firefighter, LAFD, Pacific Palisades
  • Omar Velasquez, Firefighter/Paramedic, LAFD, Boyle Heights
  • Leon Dunn, Captain, LAFD, Skid Row
  • David Riles, Captain, LAFD, Chatsworth
  • Gerardo Puga, Captain, LAFD, Panorama City
  • Miranda McOsker, Firefighter, LAFD, Lincoln Heights
  • Kimberly Herring, Firefighter/Paramedic, LAFD, South Los Angeles
  • Chris Miyasato, Firefighter, LAFD, Echo Park

Argument against

Signed by:

  • Jon Coupal, President, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

The City Clerk notes that titles are for identification only and do not mean the person signed for the organization.

Read the full arguments (PDF)

Where groups stand

Every group on our list, by category. Each position links to the group's own published guide.

Label definitions Quotes are each group's own words, copied exactly.

Political parties

10 groups

State and county parties are separate groups and can take different positions.

News outlets

5 groups

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Labor

9 groups

Business

3 groups

Civic and good government

1 group

Issue and advocacy groups

3 groups

About the summary

Summary drafted with AI from the official analysis and checked against it by automated review. Read the official analysis (PDF)

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