Citizen-led sales tax initiative moves forward; Redding council to discuss calling special election in November
The initiative would raise Redding’s sales tax by 1% if passed by voters, bringing an additional $30 million into the city annually. The extra money would help enhance public safety and pay for other projects, including improvements to the Redding Sports Park and Redding Rodeo Grounds.
A citizen-led initiative to increase Redding’s sales tax by 1% has officially received enough signatures to prompt a special election, which will be held in November, pending a formal resolution by the Redding City Council on Tuesday, Aug. 5.
Shasta Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis confirmed today that enough signatures, a total of 9,672, have been gathered to allow a citizen-led sales tax measure initiative to move forward to a vote of the people. Of those signatures, more than 6,000 were found to be valid. A minimum of 5,816 signatures, or 10% of registered voters in the city, are required for a citizen-led initiative to appear on the ballot.
If passed, the initiative will raise Redding’s sales tax from 7.25% to 8.25% — bringing an additional $30 million into the city annually. The extra money would make up for “unmet needs” in the community, focusing on public safety and infrastructure. The revenue stream resulting from the tax likely wouldn’t begin until April 2026.
The group that proposed the sales tax increase, which goes by Citizens for a Better Redding (CBR), breaks down how the extra money will be spent if the initiative is passed.
Based on those percentages, new sales tax income would offer the Redding Police an additional approximately $3.6 million annually on top of a current budget of about $43 million. The Shasta Sheriff’s Office would gain the same amount annually for incarceration purposes. The Redding Fire Department would receive about $3.9 million annually.
New tax revenue would also provide $9 million each year for roads and transportation facilities, $1.5 million for the Redding Regional Airport and $2.7 million for parks. An additional allocation of funds would specifically be used for projects at the Northern Redding Riverfront for improvements and maintenance to public facilities, including the Civic Auditorium and Redding Rodeo Grounds.
A CBR spokesperson said over email that surveying of city departments was conducted by the group to identify funding gaps. They said the Redding Riverfront was specifically chosen for funding because it’s the largest attraction space in the city.
A partial list of those involved in the group was provided by the CBR spokesperson. They include Jennifer Johnston, Michelle Nystrom, Dave Silva, Zach Bay, July Dyar, Baron Browning, Lane Rickard, Dennis Morgan, Christina Prosperi and Kenny Breedlove.
Redding City Manager Barry Tippin emphasized in an email statement to Shasta Scout that there is no city involvement in the initiative other than answering questions posed by citizens involved in the project.
Tippin also highlighted some of the improvements the additional funding will provide for the community, including funding construction and staffing of Fire Station #9, upgrades to the Redding Sports Park, helping rebuild the Redding Rodeo Grounds, keeping the Civic Auditorium open and helping to launch the Shasta Sheriff’s Office new alternative custody facility.
Anderson passed a smaller sales tax increase of 0.5% in 2014, which so far has provided funding for the police department and improvements to local parks, including the installation of a new splash pad.
Like the Anderson sales tax, the initiative in Redding is labeled as a “specific tax,” which means that the additional money collected from the tax will, by law, go toward the specific purposes outlined in the measure. Specific taxes are normally required to meet the approval of two-thirds of voters to pass. However, since the tax is proposed as a “citizen-led initiative,” it will only require a simple majority of 50% plus one vote to pass. Several Redding sales tax initiatives that have failed over recent years were not citizen-led.
On Tuesday, August 5, the Redding City Council will consider passing resolutions “to certify the sufficiency of the petition” and ask the council to call a special election for Nov. 4.
A special election could potentially cost the city of Redding many thousands of dollars. City Manager Tippin didn’t immediately respond to questions asking how much this election is likely to cost.
This will be the first election run by Shasta’s new election official who was appointed earlier this year.
Madison Holcomb is a recent graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She’s reporting for Shasta Scout as a 2025 summer intern with support from the Nonprofit Newsroom Internship Program created by The Scripps Howard Fund and the Institute for Nonprofit News.
Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
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Although the tax increase is needed to offset the loss of revenue due to thousands of people moving away from Shasta County, it is unlikely to pass due to citizens having to now pay the new tax, aka Trump tariffs, which will add an estimated $200/month to everyone’s bills.
Taken from Google:
The City Manager of Redding, has a total compensation of $458,532.34 for the fiscal year 2023. This includes a salary of $287,982 and additional cash benefits of $76,413.38. His salary is significantly higher than the average city manager. Tippin’s salary has increased by 53.84% from 2017 to 2023, indicating a notable growth in his compensation.
I guess that’s one reason we need a tax increase,
A 1% tax…. In the meantime, the people complaining about the pinny are mostly Trumpers. But here’s what the cult leader did for you. Various sources estimate the Trump tariffs will cost American households an average of $2,400 per year in 2025. And you’re sniveling about a 1% sales tax to pay for cops, firefighters, and other front-line emergency services that we all need. Trumpers are funny. Joke’s on all of us. After you open your wallet or purse, simply Google: How many trump tariffs are in effect and how much they will cost Americans?
All the banter about keeping California and its money out and local mismanagement. There isn’t mismanagement as much as there isn’t enough money. Municipalities cost money. I don’t live in Redding but I shop there and I’d vote for it just to keep a revenue stream for the fight against the shithole the town has become. The town could be vibrant if the people and businesses step up. Volunteers to do the things voices don’t want government doing aren’t stepping up. Though I am for it, it doesn’t need to be this tax initiative. However the concerned fiscal patriots need to find a way to allow the city to generate revenue. There’s plenty of attention on spending, spend time some on revenue. Weed tax alone won’t do it.
The last thing in the world is another sales tax increase. What needs to be done is audit the city departments and people and find out what happened to all the money that’s went unaccounted for over the last 20 years. No vote for me too.
This would make COR sales tax almost as much as San Francisco sales tax. Maybe when the city votes for leaders who manage funds appropriately, this can be revisited. It’s a big NO from me:
People, don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s only 1% . Going from 7.25% to 8.25% is a 13.33 % increase … which I don’t support.
I fully support the sales tax increase!
Madison,
Just so you understand, the “citizens groups” supporting the sales tax are all prominent people whose organizations will get city funding from the sales tax.
That’s a no vote!! We THE People are paying enough as it is. And there is no accountability…….as to what it will be spend on. WHERE IS ALL THE TAX MONEY THATS COLLECTED FROM THE WEED DISPENSARIES AND WHERE IS IT BEING SPENT ???
Madison,
Why didn’t you mention that the Redding Rancheria is supporting the sales tax because the city promised to reduce their cannabis tax?
Reasons to oppose the sales tax
1) Sales taxes are regressive because they disproportionately affect lower-income individuals
2) Discourages Consumer Spending
3) Encourages Cross-Border Shopping
4) This will harm local retailers
7) Does not consider ability to pay
8) Negative impact on the purchase of essential goods.
I will vote no on this initiative. It will not serve the businesses well to increase sales tax. The city has not demonstrated its ability to manage money effectively.
I will vote no on any tax increases. Until we get people that don’t spend our tax dollars on their own special interest I will vote NO!
What about weed debatement?
All over the city there are weeds, this is not being taken care of. Not only are they insightly but they are a fire hazard. We need to beautify our city and we need to do that starting with maintenance!!
We need to get the spending we have now under control before adding yet more of a tax burden.