Restore Measure U — No Blank Checks

What Voters Were Told

Measure U was a promise, not a suggestion.

"A Community Investment Tax designed to fund youth programs, economic development in underserved neighborhoods, and equitable job creation." — How Measure U was sold to Sacramento voters

It was never intended to be a general-purpose slush fund for city building maintenance, debt service, or backfilling structural deficits in the General Fund. But that's what's happening.

They promised oversight. Then they gutted it.

The 2018 ballot language stated that a citizens' oversight committee would "review the revenue and expenditure of all funds from the tax." But when the City Council made Measure U permanent, they quietly replaced the oversight committee with an "advisory committee," stripping it of any real power. Its role now? Non-binding recommendations the Council can ignore.

“Measure U is a general purpose tax and the City Council can spend it for any purpose.” — City Finance Director, Measure U Community Advisory Committee Meeting

This is the city’s own finance director saying the quiet part out loud. Voters were told Measure U was a “Community Investment Tax.” The city treats it as a blank check. Watch for yourself:

Follow the Money

Revenue up. Programs cut.

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$135M → $148M Measure U tax revenue keeps growing every year

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$7.9M Spent on city overhead, not community programs

Meanwhile, Measure U is paying for this:

These are General Fund obligations being paid with Measure U dollars. Your "community investment" tax at work.

$4.72M General Insurance & Termination Operations

$2.2M Roof repairs, plumbing, electrical & building maintenance

$879K Retired & transferred employee benefits

$89K Employee development & training

$7.9M of Measure U funds spent on city overhead, not community investment

An Example

A young girl operates a fire hose alongside a Sacramento firefighter during the Girls Fire Camp program

Record revenue. Programs shut down.

The city collected over $137 million in Measure U funds this year. A record. And yet programs like the Girls Fire Camp, which introduced young women to firefighting careers, got eliminated. The Fire Department saw its Measure U budget slashed 19% in a single year. This is just one example.

Employee Services

FY25

$2,890,457

FY26

$2,439,065

Services & Supplies

FY25

$1,038,554

FY26

$736,229

More money than ever coming in. Community programs cut anyway. Why?

Source: City of Sacramento FY2025/26 Approved Budget

We believe in these programs. That's why we want proof they work.

Right now, 13 Measure U-funded programs totaling $10 million have zero performance metrics. No measurable outcomes, no benchmarks, and no way to know if they're actually helping the communities they're supposed to serve. You can't improve what you don't measure. And you can't hold anyone accountable if there's nothing to measure against.

And some of these aren’t even community programs:

$250K Golf Course Administration Lease management for Haggin Oaks, Bing Maloney, Land Park & Bartley Cavanaugh golf courses

$448K Historic City Cemetery Grounds maintenance, burial services, and volunteer coordination

$1.9M Recreation Administration Budget management, licensing, department website and social media

$1M Economic Development Administration Administrative support for the Office of Innovation and Economic Development

See all 13 programs: what they claim vs. what they can prove

We’re not saying these programs are bad. We’re asking: how do you know they’re working?

Program Budget What it claims to do Proven outcomes

Long Range Planning $707K Guide city design, update General Plan & Housing Element None reported

Golf Administration $250K Manage golf course leases and collect rent None reported

Historic City Cemetery $448K Grounds maintenance and burial services None reported

Park Maintenance Improvements $550K Southside Park Pool renovations None reported

Office of the Director $1.05M Strategic planning, fiscal & HR management None reported

Public Safety Accountability $1.88M Oversight of public safety misconduct complaints None reported

Econ. Development Admin $1M Admin support for Office of Innovation None reported

IT Maintenance & Support $290K Citywide IT maintenance costs None reported

Retired Employee Benefits $879K Retired/transfer employee benefit costs None reported

Powerhouse Science Center $600K Academic programs and events for youth None reported

Community Nonprofit Grants $300K Social service gaps for vulnerable communities None reported

Office of Youth Development $957K Youth development goals via grantmaking None reported

Recreation Administration $1.9M Grant management, licensing, website None reported

Total $10.8M 0 of 13 with outcomes

Source: City of Sacramento FY2025/26 Measure U Programming

The Problem

Your money is going into a black box.

01

The Disconnect

Measure U revenue continues to grow every year, but community-facing programs are being cut across departments, including youth and diversity initiatives with strong track records. More money in, fewer results out.

02

The Slush Fund

Millions in Measure U dollars are being diverted to pay for routine city maintenance and labor arbitration instead of the community investments promised in the ballot measure.

03

Zero Transparency

Because the city "commingles" funds, there is currently no mathematical way for taxpayers to verify that their 1% sales tax isn't just paying for city hall overhead.

The Fix

Three guardrails. No loopholes.

Full Decoupling

Legally mandate the separation of Measure U revenue into a dedicated fund, distinct from the General Fund, to prevent "commingling." Every dollar in, every dollar tracked.

Neighborhood Floor

Require that at least 50% of all Measure U revenue goes directly to community-facing programs like Youth Academies, Girls Fire Camps, and neighborhood infrastructure.

Performance-Based Funding

Departments must prove programmatic ROI and diversity outcomes before receiving continued Measure U allocations. No results, no renewal. Period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get the facts.

Where is my money actually going?

Right now it all goes into one big pot: the General Fund. It's being used to cover a $66 million deficit caused by city mismanagement instead of funding new neighborhood projects. There's no dedicated tracking, no separate accounting, and no way for you to verify what your 1% sales tax actually paid for.

Does this initiative raise my taxes?

No. This initiative does not increase taxes by a single cent. It strictly mandates how the existing 1% Measure U sales tax is spent and reported. Same tax, real accountability.

Why can't the Oversight Committee stop the cuts?

Under the current system, the Measure U Community Advisory Committee only makes "soft recommendations." The City Council can ignore them, and does. This initiative gives the public's original intent the force of law.

The city says it needs Measure U funds to keep essential services running. Is that true?

Essential services like 311 and basic fire response are the responsibility of the General Fund. Measure U was sold to voters as an additional investment in our communities. Using community-earmarked money to fix basic budget gaps is a bait-and-switch. If the General Fund can't cover essential services, that's a budgeting failure, not a reason to raid community funds.

Who is behind this initiative?

This initiative is led by Sacramento residents who believe in fiscal accountability and honoring voter intent. Among them is John Cook, a Commissioner on the Measure U Community Advisory Committee, who grew up in Del Paso Heights, one of Sacramento's most underserved neighborhoods. An immigrant and Sac State graduate, he knows firsthand what community investment can do for kids in neighborhoods like his. He's working alongside neighbors, community leaders, and local organizations to make sure the next generation gets the same shot.

What happens after the petition gets enough signatures?

Once the required signatures are gathered and verified by the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters, the measure will be placed on the ballot for Sacramento voters to decide. If approved, the spending restrictions and transparency requirements become binding city law.

Take Action

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