El Cajon half-cent increase in sales tax expiring without extension

EL CAJON (CNS) – A half-cent sales tax increase that has netted El Cajon more than $100 million over the last decade will expire next year after the City Council voted unanimously not to ask residents for an extension.

The half-cent sales tax will expire on March 31 next year and lower El Cajon’s sales tax from nine percent to 8.5-percent, El Cajon officials said. The half-cent increase and its 10-year term were approved by voters in November 2004 as Proposition O, and the tax became effective on April 1, 2005.

At the El Cajon City Council meeting on Tuesday, the council voted unanimously not to ask residents for an extension of this tax.

“We appreciate what the taxpayers have done for the improvement of this city,” Mayor Bill Wells said. “It is now time to end this tax for the benefit of our residents.”

The revenue raised from the tax specifically was earmarked for construction of a new public safety facility, new animal control facility, new fire station on East Madison Avenue and improvements to three other city fire stations, city officials said.

All of those projects have been completed, are underway or are set to begin construction in 2015.