Citing the city’s immediate wildfire risks, the Orinda City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday night to put before voters an extension of its sales tax — increasing it from a half percent to 1%.
The sales tax, which would be for 20 years, would raise an estimated $2.4 million a year; the city plans to use the money fund public roads and storm drainage maintenance and repairs. Because it’s a general tax, the revenue is not earmarked for any specific purpose — the city can legally spend it as it chooses.
The council voted 5-0 to put the proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot. The ballot measure would require a simple majority of voter approval to pass.
It would rescind the city’s existing half-cent sales tax, set to expire in April 2023. The half-cent sales tax currently raises about $1.2 million a year. The current total local sales tax rate in Orinda is 8.75%.