San Diego Sales Tax Hike Faces Uncertain Ballot Prospects

Union-backed measure may target November election with revised polling data

Jan. 29, 2026 at 5:55pm

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Backers of a potential San Diego sales tax increase say they will use new polling data that tested a half-cent hike instead of a full-cent hike to decide in the coming days whether to pursue a November ballot measure. The local construction union proposing the initiative believes a revised proposal could have a better chance of passing than a previous failed measure, the "City of San Diego Public Safety and Infrastructure Repair Act."

Why it matters

San Diego voters have historically been skeptical of tax increases, with several high-profile measures failing in recent years. The union-backed proposal aims to generate funds for public safety and infrastructure improvements, but faces an uphill battle to gain voter approval in a challenging economic climate.

The details

The new polling data tested a half-cent sales tax increase, rather than the full-cent hike proposed in the previous failed measure. Backers believe this revised approach could resonate better with San Diego voters, who have shown reluctance to approve significant tax increases in the past.

  • The previous "City of San Diego Public Safety and Infrastructure Repair Act" failed to gain voter approval in a prior election cycle.
  • Backers of the new sales tax proposal say they will decide in the coming days whether to target the November 2026 ballot.

The players

City of San Diego

The local government entity that would oversee the revenue generated by the proposed sales tax increase.

Local construction union

The union organization that is proposing the sales tax ballot measure to fund public safety and infrastructure improvements in San Diego.

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What’s next

Backers of the sales tax measure will make a decision in the coming days on whether to pursue the November 2026 ballot with a revised half-cent increase proposal, based on the new polling data.

The takeaway

San Diego voters have repeatedly shown reluctance to approve significant tax increases, posing a challenge for this union-backed sales tax measure. The backers' decision to test a lower half-cent hike in new polling suggests an acknowledgment of the political realities they face in convincing the electorate.