Measure O Informational Mailer #1 • Measure O  Placement Resolution | Ordinance | Staff Report 
Measure O City Council Presentation (PowerPoint)

On July 22, 2014 the Sausalito City Council placed Measure O - the City of Sausalito Essential Services Measure - on the November 4, 2014 ballot to maintain the City's long-term financial viability and improve local quality of life and essential city services. Measure O is a half-cent sales tax that expires automatically after 10 years. It provides locally-controlled funds for general city services and infrastructure that cannot be taken by Sacramento.

Among other community priorities, Measure O provides funds to help fix some of the City's aging infrastructure, including repairing our deteriorating 80-year-old storm drains and making essential repairs to our cracked roads and streets in the worst condition. Also, with tens of thousands of tourists coming to Sausalito each year to shop, Measure O ensures that out-of-towners pay their fair share for the strain they place on our local services.

By law, Measure O requires annual independent financial audits and published expenditure reports to make sure the City accounts for every dollar.

Frequently Asked Questions About Measure O

Q: What is Measure O?

A: On July 22, the Sausalito City Council placed Measure O - the City of Sausalito Essential Services Measure - on the November 4, 2014 ballot to maintain the City's long-term financial viability and improve local quality of life and essential city services. Measure O provides funding for general city services and infrastructure, such as repairing storm drains, fixing streets and potholes, maintaining sidewalks, upgrading parks, and maintaining landscaping and tree trimming.

Q: Why was Measure O placed on the ballot?

A: With Sacramento money grabs continually threatening funding for local services, Measure O provides a guaranteed source of local funding to address essential services needs that cannot be taken by Sacramento. Without Measure O, the City does not have the funds necessary to address critical infrastructure needs (including repairing deteriorated storm drains and roads) while maintaining our long-term financial viability.

Q: How can Measure O funds help protect the Bay?

A: Sausalito's 80-year-old storm drains are deteriorated and many are completely rusted through, which allows pollutants, garbage and plastics to spill over into the Bay. Measure O provides funding to invest in vital storm drain upgrades to protect water quality and avoid expensive fines and harming the environment.

Q: What about local streets?

A: Many of Sausalito's neighborhood streets and roads are not only deteriorating and riddled with cracks, but are also on steep hillsides. While the city has made major improvements to a number of streets, it has not been able to address the concrete streets that are in the worst condition, which cost up to five times as much to fix. Measure O funds are needed to fix these hazardous road conditions that not only put motorists at risk, but also buses, cyclists and police and fire safety vehicles.

Q: How can Measure O impact local services?

A: Measure O provides funding to improve general city services, including: 
    • Maintaining storm drains to prevent pollutants, garbage, and sediment from entering the Bay 
    • Repairing 80-year old deteriorating storm drains 
    • Maintaining the long-term financial viability of the City 
    • Fixing potholes 
    • Maintaining and repairing neighborhood streets 
    • Fixing broken and potentially unsafe sidewalks 
    • Upgrading deteriorating neighborhood parks

Q: What does Measure O cost?

A: Measure O is a half-cent sales tax that expires automatically after 10 years. Measure O will not be charged on food purchased as groceries or prescription medication. With tens of thousands of tourists coming to Sausalito each year to shop, Measure O ensures that out-of-towners pay their fair share for the strain they place on our local services.

Q: Is Measure O fiscally accountable?

A: Measure O is subject to strict fiscal accountability and transparency. By law, Measure O requires annual independent financial audits and published expenditure reports to make sure the City accounts for every dollar it spends. All funds raised would be legally required to stay in Sausalito for local services and could not be taken by Sacramento. Additionally the entire City budget is published online, allowing residents to drill down into every cost detail - an example of the City's continued commitment to transparency.