Measure O

Cannabis Tax Authorization for Maintenance of Essential Services

In 2022, the State of California passed SB 1186, a law in California that sets rules about where cannabis businesses can be located and ensures they follow certain regulations. 

The City of Visalia is always keeping an eye on the future – planning how it can best support its residents and maintain the highest standards of living while also adhering to State law. In response to SB 1186, the Visalia City Council recently adopted a resolution to place Measure O: The Visalia Cannabis Tax Authorization for Maintenance of Essential Services on the November 5, 2024, ballot. 

This measure will allow Visalia residents to vote on taxing cannabis businesses and funnel that revenue into the General Fund to protect essential services like preventing property crime, maintaining quick emergency response times and keeping public areas safe and clean, but only if the State ultimately requires the City to allow cannabis sales in the City or the City Council chooses to adopt an ordinance. 

Currently, cannabis businesses are still illegal in the City of Visalia, but public officials are attempting to consider future State mandates and to best manage the needs of Visalia. In the event of a state mandate or City Council ordinance allowing cannabis businesses in Visalia, City officials wanted to ensure that they have the funds to cover essential services and any increase in needs that these businesses may bring.

Measure O: The Visalia Cannabis Tax Authorization for Maintenance of Essential Services will allow Visalia residents to vote on taxing cannabis businesses at a rate not exceeding 10% of gross receipts or up to $10 per square foot for cultivation. The money levied from this tax will go directly into the City’s general fund. This measure also includes provisions for mandatory spending disclosures. If approved, the Cannabis Business Tax could generate approximately $500,000 per year. 

The proposed tax will only be levied if State law mandates it or if the City Council passes an ordinance permitting these types of businesses to operate within Visalia. The revenue generated from this tax could be utilized to find fund a variety of general governmental services including, but not limited to:

Public Safety
Emergency Responses
Youth Programs
Homelessness
Public Space Maintenance

Measure O: Cannabis Tax Authorization for Maintenance of Essential Services will appear on your ballot as:

Shall the measure to fund general governmental services such as public safety, emergency response, youth programs, addressing homelessness, and maintaining public spaces, by taxing cannabis businesses at a rate not exceeding 10% of gross receipts, or up to $10/square foot for cultivation, raising approximately $500,000 annually, requiring spending disclosures, and which would only be levied if state law mandates or the Council approves an ordinance allowing such businesses, lasting until ended by voters, be adopted?

FAQs

Q: Does the city currently have any plans to allow cannabis businesses in Visalia?
A: There is no specific plan to move ahead with allowing cannabis retail operations unless the State mandates it. However, that decision may change based on City Council priorities.

Q: Where would the money from this tax be spent?
A: The money from the Measure O would go directly into the City’s general fund. The funds would then be kept local and are available for the City to invest in Visalia.

Q: What types of services would this tax fund?
A: If the Measure O passes, it would aid in funding essential city services like public safety, quick emergency response times, social services, public health, recreational programs, public works projects and more.

Q: Where can I learn more about SB 1186 - the bill that opens the door to state mandates for cannabis business allowance in cities?
A: To learn more about SB 1186, please visit https://www.calcities.org/resource/faq-the-medicinal-cannabis-patients-right-of-access-act 

Q: Does the City currently ban cannabis sales in Visalia?
A: No. Residents are allowed to purchase cannabis from stores operating outside City limits and have the cannabis delivered to their homes in Visalia. However, the City does ban retail or storefront sale of cannabis in city limits. Additionally, per the state mandate of SB 1186, the City now allows delivery only (non-storefront) medical marijuana retail establishments to operate within the city with the adoption of Ordinance No. 2023-13 for Zoning Text Amendment No. 2023-02. This ordinance established objective standards and reasonable zoning regulations for this type of business to operate within the city. As of July 2024, there are no such businesses established within the city.  

Q: How can I vote on Measure O: The Cannabis Tax Authorization for Maintenance of Essential Services?
A: You can vote on this measure during the November 5, 2024 election. For more information about voting in Tulare County, please visit https://tularecoelections.org/elections/.