Dear Ventura Chamber and Community Members,
I want to share an important update from last night’s Ventura City Council meeting. After significant discussion, the Council voted 4–3 against placing an additional one‑cent sales tax increase on the November ballot. (Councilmembers Campos, Mangone and Schumacher for the increase and Mayor Sanchez Palacios, Deputy Mayor Halter and Councilmembers McReynolds and Duran against the increase).
This outcome reflects many of the concerns our Chamber Board raised when City Manager Bill Ayub presented the proposal to us earlier this spring. While we appreciate the City’s transparency and willingness to engage with the business community, our Board ultimately did not feel that a general tax measure was appropriate at this time - especially given the economic pressures facing residents and employers alike.*
Over the past year, Ventura businesses have been navigating rising costs on nearly every front: tariffs increasing the price of goods, gas at six dollars per gallon, healthcare premiums up more than thirty percent, and grocery and basic‑needs inflation at historic highs. With another water‑rate increase scheduled in the next 30 days, our members made it clear that adding a higher sales tax on top of these challenges would further strain both businesses and the customers they rely on.
The Council’s decision helps protect Ventura’s economic stability at a moment when many households and employers are already stretched thin. It also reinforces a message we have consistently shared: before turning to new taxes, the City must fully pursue opportunities to grow revenue through economic development, business retention, and a stronger local economy.
We appreciate the Councilmembers who took the time to listen to our concerns and to the many Chamber members who reached out, attended meetings, or shared their perspectives. Your voice matters, and it made a difference.
The Chamber will continue working closely with City leadership to ensure Ventura remains a place where businesses can thrive, residents can afford to live, and economic growth is prioritized over additional financial burdens.
Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to our community.
Warm regards,
Stephanie Caldwell President & CEO Ventura Chamber of Commerce 2478 E Main Street | Ventura, CA 93003 Tel (805) 643-7222 x103 | Mobile (408) 309-4815
*Back in 2016, the City of Ventura residents voted to add an additional half-cent sales tax increase, through Measure O, in effect until 2041(25 years). We supported the Measure, with the caveat that the City do everything in its power to increase revenues naturally, through robust and focused economic development.
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