Preview your ballot and get information on registering to vote, and voting by mail or in-person with CapRadio's Sacramento 2022 election voter guide.
From major transportation funding decisions to how to address the region's homelessness crisis, Sacramento County voters will be asked to weigh in on 14 different measures this November.
While that may sound like a lot (and double the number of statewide propositions), no single voter will have to decide on all 14. Many apply just to voters in certain cities, school districts or other areas of the county. You can enter your address in our Sacramento Voter Guide to see which apply where you live.
Here's more information on each measure, and how it might impact you.
Measure A
Measure A seeks to raise Sacramento County’s sales tax in order to fund transportation projects as well as services including road maintenance, the creation of new roads and the expansion of light rail and transit services.
This would include further funding for the Capital Southeast Connector expressway, which is a highway project that would connect Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova and Folsom. It would also help fund maintenance of the American River Parkway and expansion of the Regional Transit light rail system, among other projects.
This measure requires at least 50% approval from voters to pass. If passed, it would increase sales taxes countywide by 0.5% over 40 years, raising about $8.5 billion.
A yes vote on this measure would raise the county sales tax to fund transportation projects.
A no vote on this measure would leave sales taxes at their current level.
— Manola Secaira
Learn more:
Measure B
All Sacramento County voters can weigh in on this cannabis and hemp business special tax measure. The tax would apply to cannabis businesses in unincorporated areas, generating an estimated $5.1 to $7.7 million annually that the county would spend on homeless services. The county doesn’t currently allow cannabis dispensaries in unincorporated areas, but the Board of Supervisors could develop rules to permit them if the measure passes.
A yes vote on this measure would create a special tax on cannabis businesses in unincorporated areas that the county would spend on homeless services.
A no vote would not create a special tax on cannabis businesses in unincorporated areas that the county would spend on homeless services.
— Kristin Lam
There is no Measure C
Measure D
Measure D is on the ballot because California law requires local governments to get approval from voters before spending public funds on affordable housing for low-income households. Measure D would allow the county and city governments to build affordable housing after the current authorization expires. Sacramento voters last approved a similar measure in 2004, when they OK’d the county building 6,800 affordable housing units over 20 years. Measure D would not require the county or city governments to build affordable housing, nor would it raise property taxes.
A yes vote on this measure would allow Sacramento County government agencies to spend and apply for public funding to develop, build and acquire affordable housing after 2024.
A no vote would prevent local government agencies from creating publicly funded affordable housing after 2024.
— Kristin Lam
Measure E
Elk Grove voters will consider Measure E, which would place a one-cent sales tax on most retail purchases made within the city.
Sales tax in Elk Grove is currently 7.75%. If Measure E is approved, sales tax will increase to 8.75%.
Measure E is qualified as a general tax, according to a report from the Elk Grove City Attorney, which means that revenue can be used for any general government service. City officials say they would use the funding for services like crime reduction, addressing homelessness, youth crime prevention and street and park maintenance.
If passed, city officials say the tax could bring in more than $21 million annually. Twenty five percent of the revenue collected from Measure E taxes would be required to be held in qualified local banks.
A yes vote on this measure would approve an additional 1% sales tax on most purchases made within Elk Grove city limits.
A no vote on this measure would not approve an additional 1% sales tax on most purchases made within Elk Grove city limits.
— Claire Morgan
There is no Measure F
Measure G
Measure G would authorize the Carmichael Recreation and Park District to take out nearly $32 million in bonds to fund park renovation and improvement projects.
The Carmichael Recreation and Park District covers nearly 10 square miles of unincorporated county area in Carmichael and Fair Oaks. The district’s budget is funded largely through property taxes.
District officials called their facilities “outdated,” and said they plan to use the funds to renovate bathrooms, add safety measures like lights and fencing and increase park accessibility by making Americans with Disabilities Act improvements, among other things. If Measure G is passed, a citizens’ oversight committee will be formed to monitor bond spending.
Two thirds of voters in the Carmichael Recreation and Park District must vote in favor of Measure G for it to pass.
A yes vote on this measure would approve Carmichael Recreation and Park District to take out $32 million in bonds for renovation projects.
A no vote on this measure would not approve Carmichael Recreation and Park District to take out $32 million in bonds for renovation projects.
— Claire Morgan
There is no Measure H
There is no Measure I
Measures J and K: Twin Rivers school bonds
Twin Rivers Unified School District is proposing two bond measures that would fund the renovation of the high school, middle school and elementary schools in the district. After a decade without placing a bond measure on the ballot, TRUSD says it needs additional support to improve its 50-year-old facilities.
The funds are prohibited from being used for administrative salaries, pensions or benefits. A Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee and a third-party auditor will review all bond expenditures. Both measures require a 55% approval rate to pass.
Bonds are essentially loans issued for a government agency that are repaid at face value within 30 years. The money is paid back with interest, which comes from property tax in the region. In the case of measures J and K, TRUSD would issue bonds up to the amount requested. The bond funds would then be used to update the school facilities. The benefit of a bond measure is that it provides sustainable long-term funding.
Here are the two TRUSD bond measures on the ballot this year:
Measure J: This measure calls for up to a $120 million bond to address facility improvements used for middle and high school programs throughout the district. TRUSD cannot loan more than $8 million annually. The government would pay back the bond with an interest rate of 2.3 cents per $100 spent.
Measure K: This measure calls for up to a $150 million bond to address elementary school facility improvements in the district. TRUSD cannot loan more than $10 million annually. The government would pay back the bond with an interest rate of 3.7 cents per $100 spent.
A yes vote on measures J or K would allow for bonds to be issued by the government for maintenance or replacement of security, air conditioning, heating, electrical systems, playgrounds, lead pipes, roofing and more in the Twin Rivers Unified School District.
A no vote on Measure J or K would not issue government bonds to support the maintenance of schools in the district and possibly delay maintenance on school sites.
— Srishti Prabha
Measure L
This November, Sacramento voters can influence city spending on youth programs and services through their vote on Measure L. If it passes, it would create an ongoing Sacramento Children’s Fund using unrestricted funds from the city budget roughly the “equivalent” of 40% of the money the city earns through taxing cannabis sales — around $10 million a year. That fund would be overseen by a nine-person advisory committee, open by application to community members. The committee would work in partnership with the city’s Youth Advisory Commission, track the funding’s impact and make budget recommendations to the City Council.
Measure L isn’t the first in recent years to attempt to create a more dedicated funding stream for youth programs and services in the Sacramento city budget. Those measures — Measure Y in 2016 and Measure G in 2020 — would have also established oversight committees to manage the proposed fund’s usage, but proposed different funding sources for the children’s fund. Measure L would not increase city taxes. It needs a majority vote to pass.
A yes vote on this measure would create a Sacramento Children’s Fund dedicated to funding organizations providing support services for youth 25 and under. It would also create a nine-person oversight committee that would oversee the money’s usage, make budget allocation recommendations to City Council and track the funding’s impact.
A no vote on this measure would not set aside dedicated city funds for youth programs and services, which could continue to be funded through budget allocations on a case-by-case basis.
— Janelle Salanga
Learn More
Measure M
Sacramento officials put Measure M on the ballot to clarify when the city uses a new district map after redistricting. It makes it clear that new district boundaries will be used in the next regular elections when current council members’ terms will expire. Measure M doesn’t apply to a recall election or a special election to fill a vacancy.
A yes vote on this measure would add the clarification for implementing new City Council district maps to the city charter. It doesn’t affect the November 2022 council elections.
A no vote would not add the clarification to the city charter. It doesn’t affect the November 2022 council elections.
— Kristin Lam
Measure N
The city proposed Measure N to broaden rules for spending the transit occupancy tax, also known as a hotel tax. The measure would allow the city to spend the tax on tourism-related economic development projects, such as building a youth sports complex and improving the Old Sacramento Waterfront. Measure N doesn’t change the hotel tax rate.
A yes vote on this measure would allow the city to spend the TOT tax on a wider variety of projects and update the rules written in 1964.
A no vote means current rules on how the city can spend the hotel tax will remain. City code allows the spending on a list including convention halls and public assemblies.
— Kristin Lam
Measure O
Measure O, also known as the “Emergency Shelter and Enforcement Act of 2022,” would ban homeless encampments of four or more unrelated people on public property in the city of Sacramento.
But several conditions would have to be met before it could be enforced:
- First, the city would have to offer an available shelter space or allow the unhoused person to voluntarily move from public property.
- If the person rejects the offer or refuses to move, they could face a misdemeanor charge.
The measure would try to address Sacramento’s existing shortage of homeless shelters by requiring the city manager to authorize hundreds of new shelter spaces within 90 days of the act going into effect.
Additionally, it would allow residents who are considered harmed by unlawful camping to bring legal actions against the city, according to an analysis of the measure by the city attorney. If a judge orders the city to remove a camp, the resident who brought the action could recover their attorney’s fees.
There’s one more catch: Measure O would only go into effect after the city and county sign an agreement outlining the county’s responsibilities to provide services to unhoused people.
A yes vote on this measure would ban homeless encampments of four or more unrelated people on public property in the city of Sacramento.
A no vote on this measure would leave current law unchanged.
— Chris Nichols
Learn More:
Measure P
If approved, Measure P would authorize the Elverta Joint Elementary School District to take out up to $4 million in bonds to improve its educational facilities. District officials say that they would use the funding to modernize outdated classrooms, refurbish restrooms and upgrade heating, ventilation and plumbing systems.
A citizens’ oversight committee will be formed to monitor bond spending if Measure P is passed.
Community members said that many of the classrooms in the district “do not meet 21st century standards” in a letter of support for Measure P submitted to the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters.
No arguments against Measure P were filed to Sacramento County’s Registrar of Voters.
At least 55% of voters in the Elverta Joint Elementary School District must vote in favor of Measure P for it to pass.
A yes vote on this measure would approve Elverta Joint Elementary School District to take out up to $4 million in bonds to update school infrastructure
A no vote on this measure would not approve Elverta Joint Elementary School District to take out up to $4 million in bonds to update school infrastructure.
— Claire Morgan
Measure Q
Galt voters will consider a measure that would add a one-cent sales tax to purchases made within city limits.
If passed, Measure Q would apply an added 1% tax to the majority of retail purchases made in Galt.
Measure Q qualifies as a general tax, which means that revenue can be used for any general government service. City officials said they would use that revenue to improve parks, bolster youth and afterschool programs and fund emergency response teams.
Sales tax in Galt is currently 8.25%, which is slightly higher than most areas in the county — cities like Elk Grove, Citrus Heights and North Highlands share tax rates at 7.25%. If Measure Q passes, sales tax in Galt will rise to 9.25%.
The tax could generate roughly $3.6 million in revenue to the city’s General Fund every year. If approved, the tax would remain in effect until voters repeal the measure.
A yes vote on this measure would approve an additional 1% sales tax on most purchases made within Galt city limits.
A no vote on this measure would not approve an additional 1% sales tax on most purchases made within Galt city limits.
— Claire Morgan
Measure R
If approved, Measure R would authorize a special tax on residents of the Rancho Murieta Community Services District in order to continue funding security services.
The district is the only one of its kind in the state that provides 24-hour security services. Security officers operate gates leading into residential neighborhoods and respond to emergency calls within district boundaries.
The measure would authorize a $316 tax for each parcel of land within the district’s boundaries. The tax rate can be adjusted annually to reflect cost of living increases.
Two-thirds of voters within the Rancho Murieta Community Services District must vote in favor of Measure R for it to pass. It would remain in effect until the board or voters decide to repeal the measure.
A yes vote on this measure would approve an additional $316 tax for each parcel of land within the Rancho Murieta Community Services District for security services.
A no vote on this measure would not approve an additional $316 tax for each parcel of land within the Rancho Murieta Community Services District for security services.
— Claire Morgan
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