Pasadena property owners could see a new charge of 24 cents per developed square foot on their tax bills if the City Council moves forward with a proposed fire parcel tax for the November ballot.

The council continued debate Monday, July 20, on whether to send two revenue measures to voters on Nov. 3: the fire parcel tax, projected to raise roughly $30 million a year, and a 10% parking occupancy tax expected to generate about $5 million annually, according to Pasadena Now.

The council must make a final decision by Monday, Aug. 3, to meet Los Angeles County's Aug. 7 deadline for measures to qualify for the fall ballot.

What comes next

The outcome of the July 20 discussion was not available at publication. If the council gave direction, city staff is scheduled to return with final ballot language at either the July 27 or Aug. 3 council meeting. That Aug. 3 session would be the council's last chance to place the measures before voters.

What the fire tax would fund

City staff estimates the parcel tax would finance a 10-year investment plan for the Pasadena Fire Department. That plan includes rebuilding at least two aging, earthquake-vulnerable fire stations, constructing one additional station, purchasing new rescue ambulances, fire engines and trucks, hiring personnel to staff them, expanding paramedic services, and providing year-round brush clearance in the foothills.

Because the parcel tax is earmarked for specific purposes, it qualifies as a special tax under California law and would need two-thirds voter approval to pass.

How the field narrowed

At its Monday, July 13, meeting, the council reviewed five possible revenue measures and eliminated three: a quarter-cent transaction and use tax (about $11 million a year), a real property transfer tax (about $26 million a year), and a modernized business tax ($10 million to $15 million a year). Only the fire parcel tax and the parking occupancy tax survived.

Councilmember Rick Cole urged broader public discussion before committing to a ballot measure, according to Pasadena Now reporting on July 14. The city also launched a community survey on July 20 seeking resident feedback on priorities for fire department services and emergency response infrastructure, according to the City of Pasadena's official account.

Voter approval will be a challenge

Pasadena voters already approved parcel taxes for libraries in 2022 and for the Pasadena Unified School District. The November 2026 ballot is also expected to include 14 statewide propositions, including about $44 billion in bond measures competing for voter attention, according to the Pasadena Now report.

A city staff report presented at the July 13 meeting said Pasadena's expenditures continue to grow faster than revenues, creating a widening structural deficit, though the report did not specify the size of the gap. The council approved a balanced General Fund budget on Monday, June 15, using one-time revenues and reserves for the third consecutive year.

Residents who want to weigh in can submit written correspondence to the City Council or participate in the city's community survey on fire department and infrastructure priorities, available through the City of Pasadena website.