Measure J: Transactions and Use Tax Measure
City of Chino Hills · San Bernardino County · November 3, 2026
The question on your ballot
Shall the measure protecting Chino Hills' financial stability and maintaining City services including public safety response times; reducing wildfire risk; preparing for/responding to wildfires/natural disasters; helping prevent crime, thefts, burglaries; keeping public areas safe/clean; protecting Clean Water Act resources; preserving/maintaining open space; supporting other city services by establishing a 1¢ sales tax, providing approximately $11,500,000 annually until ended by voters; with audits, spending disclosure, all funds used locally, be adopted?
In plain language
Measure J would add a 1-cent sales tax in the City of Chino Hills. That means 1 cent more on every dollar spent on taxable items. It would be added on top of the current 7.75% rate. Like the current sales tax, it would not apply to some food, prescription medicine, tuition, rent, or utilities. Labor and services are also mostly not taxed. This is a general tax. The money goes into the city's general fund and can be used for any lawful city purpose. The ballot question lists uses such as public safety, wildfire safety, crime prevention, clean public areas, clean water, and open space. All the money would stay with the city. The tax would last until voters end it. The City Council could also pause all or part of it at any time. A YES vote approves the new tax. A NO vote rejects it.
Fiscal impact
Adds a 1-cent sales tax on top of the current 7.75% rate, expected to raise about $11,500,000 a year, until voters end it.
Impartial analysis
MEASURE __ CITY ATTORNEY’S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS If approved, Measure __ would authorize a one percent (1% - one cent on every dollar) transactions and use (sales) tax within the City of Chino Hills. It is estimated that Measure __ will provide an additional $11,500,00.00 annually to the City’s general fund, which is used mainly to fund police services, open space maintenance (including wildfire prevention services), park and street maintenance, and community programs and events. This tax would be a “general tax,” meaning that revenues raised from the tax would be deposited into the City’s general fund and could be used for any lawful City purpose. The sales tax would generally be applicable to retail sales of tangible items. Like the existing sales tax, it would not apply to sales of certain food products for human consumption, sales of prescription medicine, tuition, rent, or utilities. Labor and services are also generally exempt from sales tax. California Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.9 authorizes the City to levy a general transactions and use (sales) tax so long as the tax is approved by a majority of the voters voting in an election on the issue. If approved, the tax would remain in effect until ended by Chino Hills voters voting at a subsequent election. The City Council may also choose to suspend all or a portion of the tax at any time in its discretion. The current sales tax rate in Chino Hills is 7.75%, of which the state receives 6%, the City receives 1%, and the county receives 0.75%. The proposed 1% sales tax would be in addition to the current sales tax rate. However, all revenues raised by the proposed tax would be controlled by the City and available for local use. Neither the state nor the county would share in the tax revenue. The Chino Hills City Council placed Measure __ on the ballot. It takes a simple majority of the votes cast to pass Measure __. A “yes” vote is a vote in favor of the 1% transactions and use (sales) tax. A “no” vote is a vote against the 1% transactions and use (sales) tax. The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure ___. If you desire a copy of the Measure, please call the City’s elections official at [phone number omitted] and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.
Official ballot arguments
Filed for the official voter guide by each side, printed as submitted.
Argument in favor
Argument In Favor Of Measure J Vote Yes on Measure J Chino Hills is one of the safest and most desirable communities in the region because generations of residents and City leaders have invested in public safety, wildfire preparedness, streets, parks, open space, and the neighborhood quality of life. Measure J protects those priorities and keeps Chino Hills strong. Measure J: • Maintains 911 emergency response and neighborhood police patrols • Supports crime prevention and keeps public areas safe • Strengthens wildfire prevention and emergency preparedness • Repairs streets, potholes, and aging infrastructure • Maintains parks, open space, and recreation programs It does not apply to groceries, prescription medications, rent or mortgage payments, utility service charges, medical or dental services, tuition, childcare, labor, or personal services. An estimated 64% of Chino Hills’ sales tax revenue is generated by visitors who shop, dine and seek entertainment here. Visitors strengthen our economy, but they also use local roads, emergency response and public safety services. Measure J allows visitors to help pay for the services and infrastructure they use. Measure J reinforces Local Control. 100% of Measure J would remain in Chino Hills to support local services and priorities. Neither San Bernardino County nor the State could take or redirect these funds. The money would be reinvested directly in our community to benefit Chino Hills residents and businesses. Measure J requires independent financial audits and public disclosure of all spending. Families moved to Chino Hills for its safe neighborhoods, well-maintained streets and parks, open spaces, and exceptional quality of life. We see the challenges facing other cities and understand what can be lost when communities stop investing in public safety, infrastructure, and quality of life. This is not about Sacramento or Washington, D.C. This is about Chino Hills - and our responsibility to protect what we have. Vote Yes on Measure J.
Measure J Rebuttal From the time we were toddlers until we entered college or joined the military, my seven siblings and I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich just about every day for lunch, because that was all our parents could afford. However, if you go into your kitchen and lather one up as you read this you would probably agree that they taste pretty darn good. We did not need a double-double and a large order of fries, and neither does our city. Do not fall for the scare tactics that have been circulated. The sky will not fall if voters reject Measure J. Working together by prudently watching expenditures and pursuing other revenue sources we can manage our city budget without the need for an additional sales tax. We can show the region how special Chino Hills really is by taking a stand against the tax increases that many neighboring cities have approved. Peanut butter and jelly will do just fine. Vote No on Measure J. Bill Shannon, 13671 Monteverde Drive, Chino Hills, CA RECEIVED AUG 18 2026
Argument against
We keep hearing how special the City of Chino Hills is and how the city would face ruin if this additional sales tax is not approved. I agree that our town is special, for the same reasons identified by Measure J proponents: its stunning topography, incredible trail system, and reputation as one of the safest cities in the region. But failure to pass this one percent sales tax rate increase will not change the city’s topography, will not make our trail system disappear, and will not make our city less safe. The city just finished the filtration plant on Eucalyptus Avenue that will allow all city wells back online. The plant will bring $1 million a year back to the city. Before the plant opened, the city was spending $1 million a year on imported water. The city has a professional lobbyist and access to millions of dollars in grants from our congresspeople. In the past 12 months, Chino Hills received $1.6 million for fire reduction citywide and $1 million for storm drains in Los Serranos. The city speaks about the rising cost of landscaping and parks but quietly abandoned its efforts to address this deficit head-on. Instead, they choose the easy way out by placing a one percent sales tax rate increase on the ballot for all residents to pay, not just the people who don’t pay a landscape fee. Chino Hills is indeed a special place and can remain special without caving to pressure from the city manager and council. Increasing taxes is a slippery slope, invites more tax increases, and discourages fiscal responsibility. Vote No on new taxes. Vote No on Measure J. Bill Shannon, 13671 Monteverde Drive, Chino Hills, CA
The opposition argument agrees with what we all know: Chino Hills is a safe community with an unmatched quality of life. But safety, trails, parks, and streets do not maintain themselves. They require consistency and reliable funding. The opposition points to one-time grants and restricted water-system savings as magic fixes to an ongoing problem. They are not. Water funds can only be spent on water and cannot pay for police, fire preparedness, open space, or trails. Grants are unpredictable and restricted to specific projects. They supplement, but do not substitute stable, ongoing revenue. With California facing a massive, multi-billion-dollar structural deficit, relying on outside government handouts is a reckless gamble with our community's safety. Measure J provides locally controlled revenue that benefits our community, while asking visitors to help carry much of the cost. Visitors already generate an estimated 60+% of the City's sales tax revenue, ensuring outsiders help pay for the services and infrastructure they use. It keeps 100% of our money here at home, entirely protected from being taken by the state or county. Measure J protects essentials for families. It does not apply to groceries, prescriptions, rent, mortgages, utilities, childcare, or medical services. With mandatory independent audits and public disclosure built into the measure, every dollar is legally locked into preserving our parks, trails, open space, and public safety. The question is whether we protect what our community has built and preserve the quality of life that sets Chino Hills apart. Vote Yes on Measure J
What supporters and opponents say — outside sources (not official ballot arguments)
Statements by campaigns, officials and news coverage, quoted with attribution and linked to the original. VoterDecoder did not write them and does not endorse either side.
Supporters say
No public statements in favor were found.
Opponents say
No public statements against were found.