Hemet voters will decide this November whether to approve a proposed 1% sales tax increase that city leaders say is necessary to address the city’s long-term financial challenges and preserve essential public services. The Hemet City Council voted unanimously last week to place the measure on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot, giving residents the final say on whether to raise the city’s sales tax to what would become the highest rate in Riverside County. If approved, the increase would surpass the sales tax rates in neighboring communities, including Palm Springs and La Quinta.
City officials estimate the measure would generate approximately $16 million in additional revenue each year, although residents would not see the financial impact immediately. According to City Attorney Steven Pacifico, the city would not begin receiving the new revenue until approximately August 2027. Pacifico acknowledged the increase would place Hemet at the top of Riverside County’s sales tax rankings but noted that other cities facing similar financial pressures may also pursue tax increases in the future.
The proposal comes as Hemet continues to confront rising costs, aging infrastructure and increasing demands for police, fire and emergency services. City officials say the additional funding would help address a structural budget deficit that has persisted despite recent cost-cutting measures. Interim City Manager Noah Rau told council members that while the city has significantly reduced what was once a $13.3 million budget deficit, Hemet’s underlying financial issues remain unresolved and require a long-term solution rather than temporary reductions in spending.
“This represents an important step in the council’s ongoing efforts to address the city’s long-term financial sustainability while maintaining the essential services our residents rely on every day,” Rau said. He added that several of the reductions implemented during the current budget year are not sustainable over the long term and warned that the city’s reserve funds are projected to decline to approximately 32%, well below the city’s policy goal of maintaining a 40% reserve.
Before placing the measure before voters, the city commissioned a feasibility study to determine public sentiment. According to the results presented to the council, at least 59% of respondents in every council district expressed support for the proposed sales tax increase. Mayor Linda Krupa, who served on the city’s ad hoc committee reviewing the proposal, said the findings surprised city officials and demonstrated that many residents recognize the financial challenges facing the community.
“Every one of us in that room were absolutely shocked at the results that came back, and that our citizens understand the need that we have at this point,” Krupa said during the council meeting.
Not everyone shares that view. Several residents spoke during the public hearing, voicing frustration over deteriorating roads, crime and what they described as inadequate public services. Some questioned whether taxpayers should be asked to contribute more before seeing improvements in the city’s existing services.
Resident Judith McPherson told council members she has been assaulted multiple times in private parking lots and expressed concern about what she described as worsening crime throughout Hemet. She urged city leaders to focus on improving public safety before asking residents to approve another tax increase.
Resident Charles Vineyard also criticized the city’s priorities, pointing to deteriorating streets across Hemet. “Our streets are devastated,” Vineyard told the council. “If you’re going to do it, designate all the money for those. Then, after the streets are done, it goes to whatever. Quit putting in little loopholes.”
Several council members acknowledged they were hesitant to support placing another tax measure before voters but said the decision ultimately belongs to the community. Mayor Pro Tem Joe Males said he generally opposes tax increases but believes residents should determine whether additional funding is necessary.
“I’m not one for raising taxes, but this is not me raising taxes,” Males said. “This is the people making the decision whether they want to raise the tax. So, I’m going to vote yes to give them the decision on what they want to do.”
Hemet voters previously approved Measure U in 2016, which increased the city’s sales tax by 1% to its current rate of 8.75%. Like Measure U, the proposed increase would direct revenue into the city’s general fund, allowing city leaders to allocate the money toward a variety of municipal services, including public safety, infrastructure and other operational needs.
The outcome of the November election will determine whether Hemet receives the additional revenue city officials say is needed to strengthen long-term financial stability or whether residents choose to reject the proposal and require the city to pursue other options to address its ongoing budget challenges.
