Measure P – the Desert Hot Springs Fiscal Stability/Local Control Measure on the November Ballot

On July 2, 2024, the Desert Hot Springs City Council unanimously voted to place Measure P- the Desert Hot Springs Fiscal Stability/Local Control Measure- on the November ballot for voter consideration.

If approved by Desert Hot Springs voters, Measure P would enact a 1-cent local transactions and use (sales) tax until ended by voters, providing a source of locally controlled funds that can only be spent in Desert Hot Springs.

Making Desert Hot Springs safer, providing well-lit streets and business corridors, and keeping neighborhood parks and public spaces clean help protect our local property values by making our community a more desirable place to live, do business, and raise a family.

But a combination of state takeaways of local funds, unfunded mandates for local cities by the state, a local decline in cannabis revenue, and the increased need for services due to a 25% increase in population, mean the City does not have the funds needed to maintain the basic services our residents value.

As discussed in its May 21, 2024, budget adjustment study session, over $2.9 million dollars was cut due to budget shortfalls, and one-time funds and some reserves were used to prevent further cuts this year.

This approach cannot be used long term.

Measure P was placed on the ballot in part to allow the community to decide whether or not to enact local funding before the next fiscal year’s planning, so that additional cuts can be made if necessary.

For the past year, the city conducted significant community outreach via phone, mail, digital and in-person meetings to get community input. Service priorities identified by your neighbors include:

• Maintaining 911 emergency response times
• Maintaining rapid police response times
• Upgrading roads and bridges to better prepare them for flooding and blow sand
• Investigating and preventing crime
• Maintaining Anti-Gang an Anti-Drug Programs
• Improving public spaces to attract more businesses
• Ensuring any funding be used only in Desert Hot Springs and be accountable

If you were one of the residents who responded to the City’s survey, thank you!

Additional outreach is ongoing to obtain feedback on services is still ongoing, in order to determine which services to prioritize or attempt to shield from cuts if Measure P passes or does not pass.

Measure P includes strict accountability requirements to ensure that funds are used effectively and appropriately, including public disclosure of spending, and independent financial audits. By law, all Measure P funds must be used in Desert Hot Springs.

For factual information about Measure P, please visit www.cityofdhs.org/MeasureP.

For municipal election information, including information on candidates for Mayor, Council Districts 2 and 4, and election participation information, please visit www.cityofdhs.org/elections or www.voteinfo.net.