Santa Ana voters will cast ballots in November 2026 on whether to make permanent a sales‑tax increase known as Measure X, which has produced nearly $500 million in revenue for the city. The outcome will determine if the tax continues beyond its current temporary status.
Measure X was approved by residents earlier as a sales‑tax hike intended to generate additional funds for municipal needs. Since its implementation, the measure has supplied Santa Ana with close to half a billion dollars, a sum that city officials have allocated toward a range of services.
The revenue generated by Measure X has been directed to city maintenance, police services and other municipal programs. City leaders have used the funds to support routine upkeep of public infrastructure, bolster law‑enforcement resources and finance additional community initiatives.
The November ballot will ask voters to decide if the sales‑tax increase should become a permanent source of revenue. A permanent tax would provide a steady stream of money for the same areas of city services, while a rejection would end the additional tax and halt the flow of the nearly $500 million that has been collected to date. The decision will shape Santa Ana's fiscal planning and the continuity of services that have relied on the Measure X proceeds.