Citing multiple years of mounting expenses that have exceeded revenue, the Ceres City Council voted 4-1 on Monday to place a one-cent sales tax measure on the Nov. 4 ballot.

If it passes, Ceres’ tax rate will escalate from 8.375 percent to 9.375 percent, the highest in Stanislaus County.

Councilman James Casey cast the lone no vote in opposition to advancing the measure to Ceres voters while the others – Mayor Javier Lopez, Vice Mayor Daniel Martinez and Councilwomen Cerina Otero and Rosalinda Vierra – voted in favor.

Interim City Manager Steve Williams detailed that a consultant interviewed 311 Ceres voters and found that approximately 73 percent of respondents appear to be supportive of the tax. He said citizens’ priorities are maintaining emergency 911 response times, hiring and retaining qualified police officers, maintaining police patrol services, addressing gang related activity, and addressing homelessness and clearing encampments.

Williams recounted how the city was able to balance the 2026-27 by juggling payments and making millions of dollars in cuts to services.

“At the same time, state and regional fiscal pressures create uncertainty regarding future funding sources available to local governments,” said Williams.

A one-cent sales tax increase would result in about $9.4 million in new revenue for the General Fund.

“The proposed measure includes several accountability provisions designed to promote transparency in public oversight,” said Williams. “These provisions include independent annual financial audits, independent performance audits, public disclosure of expenditures, and citizen oversight.”

Jon Blount, vice president of the Ceres Police Officer Association, said his members support the tax measure, noting: “Our department continues to face significant staffing and resource challenges. Additional funding would help ensure we can continue providing the level of public safety our community deserves.”

He said budget woes have handicapped CPD’s effectiveness in proactively combatting crime.

“Across the Central Valley, we are one of the only, if not the only, law enforcement agency our size that does not currently have officers assigned to proactive units dedicated to gang and drug enforcement,” said Blount.

He also cited the growing costs of contracting with Modesto Fire, noting that “the city’s contractual obligation to those services is projected to nearly double over the life of the agreement, increasing from approximately $6 million in 2022 to approximately $12 million by 2031.”

Ceres resident Alan Guzman stated his opposition for more taxes, saying “most people that I’ve talked to, they’re really struggling right now … and if you were to increase a sales tax, that’s just putting a bigger strain on families.”

Nason Sanchez said he’s undecided. He acknowledged the city’s need for more revenue but said, “it’s about the individuals that are on affixed income, about the individuals that are struggling.”

Shirley Rogers also stated her opposition. “You have to make better decisions if you want decisions from us, she said. “Remember, a one-cent tax is forever. They’re not gonna ever cancel it.”

John Warren said the tax hike would mean an extra $500 on a $50,000 car purchase made in any town since the tax applies to where the car will be registered.

“I’m not so sure if I would vote yes when it comes time for me to check my ballot,” said Warren, “just because of the burden it puts on the other members of the community that are less fortunate than some of us that are in this room.”

Firefighter Joe Spani of Ceres voiced support for the tax measure, saying the proposal “is not about expanding services beyond what residents need, it’s about maintaining the level of service that community expects and deserves.”

Citizen Josh Steeley found fault with the wording of the tax measure – “Ceres 911 Emergency Response, Community Safety, Essential Services Measure.”

“I support police, emergency response, and essential services,” Steeley began. “That is not the issue. The issue is that the measure being presented as if it is dedicated to 911 in public safety, when the agenda material is identified as a general purpose sales tax for general city revenue. That matters. If the money is not legally restricted to 911 response, police staffing or emergency services, then the title is misleading. It may be spent on those things, but it can also be used for general city operations. Voters deserve plain language.”

He continued: “Do not place a high burden on working-class residents under a title that makes it sound like a dedicated 911 tax when the documents say it is a general tax.”

Nick Maynard stressed that aside from a larger financial burden on Ceres residents, “it could also give people more motivation to spend their money outside of the city, especially when several nearby communities already have lower sales tax rates.”

“We’ll have the highest tax if this were to pass and that’s concerning,” said Councilwoman Otero, who expressed the need for greater oversight. She noted that the Measure H tax was solely to “supplement public safety, not replace it” and stated “I don’t believe that we should have unfunded positions when voters initially had to prove this measure for additional public safety, services such as the Street Crimes Unit at that time.”

Otero said “if we’re asking the public to trust us with another tax measure, then we need to tighten up our financial policies right now. We can’t do it later anymore. Every tax measure needs to have oversight and concerns by oversight members should never be ignored.”

The mayor said he agreed with Casey for more financial transparency and supportive of quarterly budget reviews.

“This vote clearly is about giving the citizens and affording them the right to make a decision in the November ballot,” said Mayor Lopez, “and that decision is on the citizens. We were elected to work for you and it would be wrong for me to not support allowing the citizens to make a decision in November. So with that, I will be supporting this measure.”

Vice Mayor Martinez also said citizens should have a right to decide if they want to help their city in exchange for a tax increase.

“This evening I heard everyday person, I myself am an everyday person. I’ve got three school age children, all in elementary. I have a grandmother that lives in Eastgate that is on a fixed income. So I understand the burden that this can create, and I fully do support it. I know that, ultimately, it’s the decision of the people that vote in November on whether or not this is going to pass.”

City Attorney Nubia Goldstein said that state law forbids the city from spending any funds to campaign for any campaign even though it would benefit the city. Typically a citizens group is formed to raise money for any campaign promotions.