Local Funding | Lemon Grove

What contributes to the City of Lemon Grove’s quality of life?

A vibrant community nestled in San Diego County, Lemon Grove offers small-town charm with a zest for life. Lemon Grove takes pride in our safe, family-friendly community and we’re planning ahead to ensure we protect it for future generations.

What challenges does the City of Lemon Grove face?

While Lemon Grove is a beautiful place to call home, our City faces several challenges. The City of Lemon Grove maintains 70 miles of streets, 25 miles of storm drains, and 14 acres of community parks and playfields. Aging streets, sidewalks and 50-year-old underground storm drain pipes that carry rainwater are starting to fail, creating sinkholes and flooding that can damage streets and property. Needed repairs are currently estimated at $171 million. The longer we wait to fix this problem, the more expensive it will become.

Is Local Funding Needed?

Lemon Grove’s City Council voted to place a one-cent sales tax increase on the November 2024 ballot, providing $5.9 million annually, for these repairs and other essential City services, including:

● Fix potholes and maintain streets

● Repair aging infrastructure, including storm drains, streets, sidewalks, curbs, and public facilities

● Keep local parks, sports fields, playgrounds, and community facilities safe, clean and well-maintained

● Keep trash and pollution out of our local creeks and waterways

● Improve roads, intersections, bike lanes, and signals to improve traffic safety and reduce congestion

● Provide fire protection and paramedic services, and quick response to 9-1-1 emergencies

What types of fiscal accountability would the measure include?

The measure would include fiscal accountability protections, such as:

● A clear system of accountability, including citizen oversight, independent audits, and public disclosure of how all funds are spent.

● Every dime raised by the measure will be reinvested back into Lemon Grove to fund essential services.

● By law, the State or County can’t take the money away.

How would the sales tax measure affect purchases?

The City voted to place a sales tax measure for an increase of one cent on the upcoming November ballot. If approved by local voters, this would add an extra 10 cents to a $10 purchase of taxable goods. Essential purchases like groceries and prescription medicine are exempt from sales tax.

Are groceries, medicine, feminine hygiene products, and other essentials exempt?

Yes. By law, everyday essential purchases like groceries, medicine, diapers, and feminine hygiene products are exempt from sales tax, which helps ensure the cost is not a burden to those on fixed or limited incomes.

Where is the tax collected?

The sales tax is only for the City of Lemon Grove. Visitors and City residents would pay the tax and provide locally controlled revenue to deliver local programs and services that improve our roads, provide fire protection and emergency response, and maintain safe, clean parks.

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