Chino Hills weighs a one-cent sales tax for the November ballot

Champion Newspapers: The Chino Hills City Council will discuss putting a one-cent sales tax measure on the Nov. 3 ballot at its Tuesday, June 9 budget adoption hearing. City Manager Rod Hill's 2026-27 General Fund budget shows $59.2 million in revenue against $63.5 million in spending — a $4.3 million deficit the city will cover from reserves. Revenue options and other fiscal sustainability strategies will be presented alongside the tax question.

The cost pressures are specific: the law enforcement contract with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department rose from $18.3 million to $21 million, the city is subsidizing its landscape and lighting district by $4.7 million this year, and with more than 80 percent of the city in a state-designated high or very high wildfire zone, another $1.5 million is going to tree trimming and weed abatement. A resident survey on budget priorities and tax support, conducted by FM3 Research, was commissioned by former City Manager Benjamin Montgomery without council action — professional service agreements under $50,000 don't require it. Two councilmembers said results showed residents neither strongly for nor strongly against an increase.

Councilman Ray Marquez put the runway at three to five years on the city's $28 million in reserves. "We tap into the reserves every year," he said. "We have to make hard decisions."