The Escondido City Council voted 4-0 on Oct. 7 to oppose Measure B, a countywide half-cent sales tax that would push Del Mar and Solana Beach to the state-allowed tax ceiling.

Both cities currently charge an 8.75% sales tax rate, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Adding Measure B's half-cent would bring both to 9.25%, the maximum California law allows without state legislative approval. Neither city could raise its own sales tax in the future without going to Sacramento first.

The citizen-led measure, officially called the San Diego County Health and Safety Act, would generate an estimated $400 million to $450 million a year, The Coast News reported. Escondido faces the same tax-cap squeeze. The city's rate rose to 8.75% after voters approved a local 1-cent tax in 2024.

Escondido staff told the council that Measure B fails to establish dedicated allocations or revenue-sharing formulas for incorporated cities, according to The Coast News. There are no guaranteed distributions for municipal police and fire departments either.

Councilmember Judy Fitzgerald, who also serves on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) board, said inland North County communities are routinely overlooked for regional funding despite years of contributions.

"They're not focusing on North County inland, so we can choose where we want our money spent," she said.

Fitzgerald also noted that Measure B proponents did not respond to the city's request to explain the measure's benefits to the council.

The vote was 4-0. Councilmember Consuelo Martinez abstained, saying she wanted more information from proponents and did not feel comfortable telling voters how to vote.

Unlike Escondido's own local sales tax, Measure B has no sunset clause. It would remain in effect permanently unless voters later repealed or amended it.

Revenue would be split among several categories. Sixty percent would go to children and family services, including health care and child care. Another 22.5% would fund Tijuana River sewage crisis cleanup. Sixteen percent would support public safety, including wildfire mitigation and law enforcement. Up to 1.5% would cover administration. An 11-member citizen oversight committee would monitor spending.

As a citizen-led special tax, Measure B needs only a simple majority to pass. Proposition 43, also on the November ballot, would change state law to require a two-thirds vote for such measures going forward.

Supporters include the San Diego County Democratic Party, SEIU Local 221 and the San Diego County Firefighters Association Local 2881, according to The Coast News. Opponents include Reform California and the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that supporters had spent nearly $2.6 million on the campaign as of Sept. 19.

San Diego County voters will decide on Measure B at the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3.