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All eight Los Angeles city ballot measures on track to pass

All eight Los Angeles city ballot measures on track to pass

Rule Changes Los Angeles, CA local

Voters have chosen all eight, including a half-cent fire sales tax and six charter changes; results are due to be certified Nov. 27

5 days ago: LAist reports sales tax increase as chosen, compares rate with other cities

Overview

Updated 4 days ago

Los Angeles voters have chosen to raise the city sales tax and adopt six charter changes, with all eight city measures above the majority threshold in returns updated Nov. 4. County officials plan to certify the results Nov. 27.

Measure FD raises the city sales tax from 10.25% to 10.75% and is expected to generate about $345 million a year for fire services. The charter amendments move the city to a two-year budget, cut required City Council meetings to one a week, and exempt Palisades Fire victims from the 2022 transfer tax on high-value property sales, among other changes.

Why it matters

These measures will reshape how Los Angeles delivers basic services, from fire protection to parks and development approvals, for years to come.

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Key Indicators

8
City measures passing
All eight led with more than 50% support in Nov. 4 returns.
53.6%
Measure FD support
Share of votes favoring the half-cent fire sales tax in Nov. 4 returns.
$345M
Annual fire department funding
Estimated new revenue from Measure FD's 0.5% sales tax increase.
10.75%
City sales tax rate
Rate if Measure FD takes effect, up from 10.25%.
36%
LA County turnout
Share of registered county voters who cast ballots, based on about 2.15 million processed.

Voices

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People Involved

Karen Bass
Karen Bass
Mayor of Los Angeles
In office
DA
Diego Andrades
Charter Reform Commissioner
Celebrated charter amendments' passage
 Zev Yaroslavsky
Zev Yaroslavsky
Director, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Los Angeles Initiative
Analyst
 Monica Rodriguez
Monica Rodriguez
Los Angeles City Councilmember
Opposed some measures

Organizations Involved

Los Angeles City Council
Los Angeles City Council
City legislature
Placed measures on ballot

The 15-member council approved the ballot measures and will implement them.
LA
Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission
Advisory commission
Recommended amendments; all six were passing in Nov. 4 returns

A commission created to review and recommend changes to the city charter.
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112
Labor union
Measure FD held 53.6% support in Nov. 4 returns

The union representing rank-and-file Los Angeles firefighters.
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Taxpayer advocacy group
Opposed Measure FD, which held 53.6% support in Nov. 4 returns

A California group that opposes tax increases.

Timeline

November 2022 November 2026

7 events Latest: 5 days ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Final election results scheduled

    Upcoming Election

    The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder plans to certify final results.

  2. LAist reports sales tax increase as chosen, compares rate with other cities

    Latest Election

    LAist reported that voters chose to raise the city sales tax to 10.75% for firefighting and compared the new rate with those in other cities.

  3. Semi-final results show all eight measures passing

    Election

    Updated returns put Measure FD at 53.6% and Measure EE at 53.9%, with all eight city measures above the majority threshold. About 36% of registered county voters had cast ballots.

  4. Election Day

    Election

    Voters cast ballots on the eight city measures.

  5. City Council places measures on ballot

    Legislative

    Council approves six charter amendments and two fire-related measures, omitting more controversial proposals.

  6. Palisades Fire begins

    Disaster

    The fire destroys thousands of homes, prompting calls for tax relief and fire funding.

  7. Los Angeles voters approve Measure ULA

    Election

    A transfer tax on high-value property sales to fund affordable housing and tenant assistance.

Scenarios

1

All eight measures pass final count, implementation begins

Likely Resolves by Nov 27, 2026

Discussed by: LAist, Daily News

Updated returns showed all eight measures above 50%, with Measure FD at 53.6% and Measure EE at 53.9%. Final tally is scheduled for Nov. 27, after which the city will begin implementing the charter changes and tax increases.

2

Legal challenge stalls Measure FD or TE

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, critics of Proposition TE

Opponents could file lawsuits challenging the validity of the sales tax increase or the mansion tax exemption. Such challenges could delay implementation.

3

City Council places ranked-choice voting and council expansion on future ballot

Possible Resolves by Nov 30, 2028

Discussed by: Diego Andrades, charter reform advocates

The charter reform commission recommended expanding the City Council and implementing ranked-choice voting, but the council left these off the 2026 ballot. Advocates say they will push for them in future elections.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

November 2022

Measure ULA (2022)

Los Angeles voters approved a transfer tax on property sales above $5 million to fund affordable housing and tenant assistance. The tax faced legal challenges and implementation issues.

Then

The tax took effect in 2023, but revenue has been lower than expected.

Now

It remains a contentious source of funding for housing programs.

Why this matters now

Proposition TE now exempts fire victims from this tax, reducing its revenue and showing how voter-approved taxes can be revisited.

2020-2024

Los Angeles County Measure J (2020) and Measure G (2024)

In 2020, county voters approved Measure J, requiring 10% of county revenue for youth programs and alternatives to incarceration. In 2024, Measure G inadvertently repealed the funding requirement, requiring a new measure to reinstate it.

Then

The error forced supervisors to place a new measure on the 2026 ballot to restore funding.

Now

It highlighted the need for careful drafting of charter amendments.

Why this matters now

The 2026 city measures include similar complex charter changes, raising the risk of unintended consequences.

Sources

(8)
+3
LAist Los Angeles Times Daily News LA Public Press MyNewsLA.com LAist Daily News LAist