Public Safety and Violence Prevention Funding Measure (Measure O)

$10 Million in Public Safety Funding Set to Expire in 2025

In 2004, Santa Rosa voters approved Measure O to provide dedicated funding for public safety and for violence prevention programs in Santa Rosa. For the past 17 years, these funds have been used to support fire protection, paramedics, rapid 9-1-1 emergency response, disaster preparedness, crime prevention, youth programs, and police services. Funding for Measure O is set to expire in 2025.

Each year, an independent citizens’ oversight committee has reviewed the use of these funds and confirmed funds were spent appropriately for voter-approved public safety services. The most recent report of the oversight committee is available here. Unless renewed by voters, approximately $10 million in annual public safety funding will soon expire, which will require deep cuts to public safety services, youth programs, and violence prevention initiatives in Santa Rosa. This current local quarter-cent sales tax has provided dedicated public safety and violence prevention services funding, which added 25 cents to a $100 purchase.