Merced officials approve poll that could shape 2026 ballot
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Merced approved a $53K contract to survey residents on a potential 2026 tax measure.
- Poll will assess support for funding city services like safety, housing and parks.
- City may place bond or sales tax initiatives on 2026 ballot based on poll results.
Merced officials are looking to gauge public interest for a 2026 ballot measure aimed at raising funds for the city.
The city council approved a contract with Lew Edwards Group for $53,250 to conduct a poll regarding the potential 2026 ballot measure at their Aug. 18 meeting.
The poll would assess Merced residents’ priorities and support for future public investment in infrastructure and quality-of-life initiatives, according to meeting documents.
“This poll is not like other public opinion polls that municipalities will field. It basically is asking people two questions: what are some broad issue areas where the residents think that the city needs to do better, and maybe they would be interested in providing some additional funding to meet that goal,” Councilmember Shane Smith said.
Mayor Matthew Serratto said the revenues could expand city services for police, fire, housing, roads and even new facilities such as a new fire station and new police station, as well as the public works yard expansion and more parks.
Polled Merced residents would be asked for their views on revenue-raising measures such as bonds and even a sales tax dedicated to specific city services, according to Smith.
“The pollsters are very good at figuring this out, kind of gauging what the support is, and then we have to make a decision,” Serratto said. “There’s no guarantee we’ll do it, but we have to decide based on what, in large part, of the information we received … what sort of ballot initiative we put on the (2026) ballot.”
Serratto said he doesn’t have a specific date for when the polling starts, but expects it should be within the next few months.
“Hopefully, by the end of the year,” he said.
After the poll is returned, if residents indicate they are favorable to a ballot measure, the city council would need to vote on the type of initiative to be placed on the ballot. This would take mid-to-late summer 2026, according to Serratto.
“There’s big, big demand on our services and we want to provide those services to the community, but those services take resources,” Serratto said. “So, at the end of the day, it’s up to the community to decide, whether or not … they want to fund these or not.”
“We’ll continue and try to keep doing our best with the revenue we got to provide the best services possible,” he said.
Merced residents voted to renew Measure C with 68% of the vote in March of 2024. The measure extended a 0.5% sales tax that predominantly funds police and fire services, but also road maintenance and improvements, for an additional 20 years. The measure is expected to generate $8 million annually for the city.
“Talking with community members, they’re not fond of another tax measure,” Councilmember Fue Xiong said at the Aug. 18 meeting. “So, with the renewal of Measure C they’re struggling, and so they don’t agree with going for another sales tax.”