Riverside has set up a special website to answer questions about Measure Z, the sales tax measure that will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Measure Z would raise Riverside’s sales tax one cent, to nine cents per dollar, to pay for “critical unfunded” city services, according to a city statement.
Those services include public safety, road maintenance, tree trimming, parks and recreation and assisting the homeless.
The special site, riverside.gov/measurez, explains how Measure Z got on the ballot, includes a video that explains how sales tax work and why they’re important to cities and has a list of community meetings where people can learn about Measure Z, among other information.
If approved, the increased sales tax would generate between $48 million and $50 million a year for the city’s general fund, which pays for most city services. It would last for 20 years before being returned to voters.
A simple majority is needed for approval, according to the statement.