City of Orange Measure I — City of Orange Public Safety/Essential Services Measure (Orange County)

What it does

To maintain City of Orange’s quality of life, such as 9-1-1 response; maintaining police/fire protection; preventing crimes/thefts; retaining/attracting well-trained police officers/firefighters; keeping public parks safe/clean; addressing homelessness; wildfire protection/prevention; repairing streets/potholes; critical infrastructure improvements; shall a measure establishing a 1¢ sales tax, providing approximately $37,000,000 annually for general revenue/government purposes, expiring after 13 years, with independent oversight committee, all funds benefiting Orange residents, be adopted?

A YES vote means

The City of Orange would set a 1¢ sales tax for 13 years, raising about $37,000,000 a year for general city purposes, with an independent oversight committee.

A NO vote means

The City of Orange would not set this 1¢ sales tax.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

The Orange City Council submitted Measure I to voters; it would add a one percent general transactions and use (sales) tax to the city code, according to the City Attorney's impartial analysis.

The tax would generally apply to taxable retail sales but not to purchases exempt from state sales tax, such as most groceries and prescription medicines; the money would go to the General Fund for any lawful city purpose, with an Independent Oversight Committee and an annual independent audit.

The City estimates it would raise about $37 million a year; it would last 13 years unless changed by voters and requires a simple majority.

Put on the ballot by Orange City Council (2026).

From official source.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Orange County ballots

• City of Costa Mesa Measure C — The Costa Mesa Fair Business License Reform, Small Business Protection Measure
• City of Irvine Measure D — Measure Directing the Use of Ranked Choice Voting for City Council Member and Mayoral Elections after January 1, 2028
• City of Laguna Beach Measure E — An Ordinance of the People of the City of Laguna Beach, California, Adding Section 2.04.080 to the Laguna Beach Municipal Code to Establish Term Limits for City Council Members
• City of Lake Forest Measure F — Lake Forest Election Reform and Voter Choice Measure
• City of Los Alamitos Measure G — Los Alamitos Hotel Tax (TOT Measure)
• City of Newport Beach Measure H — City of Newport Beach General Plan – Amendment
• City of Orange Measure J — City of Orange Hotel Guest Tax Modification Measure
• City of Orange Measure K — Proposed Charter for the City of Orange
• City of Placentia Measure L — Placentia Hotel Tax Measure
• City of San Clemente Measure M — San Clemente Natural Hazards Sales Tax Citizens Initiative
• City of Santa Ana Measure N — Santa Ana Streets, Public Safety, Essential City Services Measure
• City of Westminster Measure O — Westminster City Services Measure

All Orange County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Orange Measure I mean?

The City of Orange would set a 1¢ sales tax for 13 years, raising about $37,000,000 a year for general city purposes, with an independent oversight committee.

What does a NO vote on City of Orange Measure I mean?

The City of Orange would not set this 1¢ sales tax.

How many votes does City of Orange Measure I need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Orange Measure I?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.