Election results: Desert Hot Springs sales tax hike leading easily
(This story will be updated as votes are tabulated.)
A proposed sales tax increase of 1 cent per dollar in Desert Hot Springs was leading easily in the latest election results, which won't be official for a few weeks.
The city's sales tax is currently 7.75%. If approved, Measure P would increase it to 8.75%, raising about $2.4 million a year. As of Thursday evening, 4,201 people had voted in favor of the measure and 1,177 had voted against it, a 78.1% to 28.9% margin.
Desert Hot Springs has been facing several financial struggles that prompted the city council to add the sales tax increase measure to the Nov. 5 ballot. It had hefty expenses like Hilary storm repairs and a new homeless shelter, in addition to lower cannabis revenues after reducing the cannabis cultivation tax rate to help struggling businesses.
Who's winning? Live Coachella Valley election results
It had to use reserves due to an estimated $1.5 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2023-24 and may have a $1 million deficit for fiscal year 2024-25. It also has had to make budget cuts. The majority of residents the city surveyed believed Desert Hot Springs needs more funding.
Palm Desert and Cathedral City voters also had sales tax increases on the ballot, and both were leading comfortably.
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Ani Gasparyan covers the western Coachella Valley cities of Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City. Reach her at ani.gasparyan@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Election results: Desert Hot Springs sales tax hike Measure P leading
