On July 18^th, The Ridgecrest City Council unanimously placed Measure V – The Ridgecrest Public Safety and Essential Services Reauthorization Measure -- on the November Municipal ballot:

"Ridgecrest Public Safety and Essential Services Reauthorization Measure.
 To prevent cuts/ maintain City of Ridgecrest services, such as:
• repair potholes/ city streets;
• 9-1-1 emergency/ medical response times;
• neighborhood police patrols;
• attract/ retain local business/ jobs; and
• for general government use,
shall the City of Ridgecrest measure reauthorizing a previously voter-approved 1¢ sales tax with no tax increase,
providing $6,500,000 annually, until ended by voters, with independent oversight/ audits, all funds for City of Ridgecrest, no funds for Sacramento, be adopted?” 

If reauthorized, Measure V will continue to fund repairing potholes and City streets, maintain 911 emergency and medical response times, and ensure local control of local tax dollars.

Measure V continues to ensure the State and County cannot take money from Ridgecrest and keeps taxpayer dollars in our City, to benefit our residents as intended when first authorized by voters in 2012.

Measure V is not a proposed tax rate increase, but simply a reauthorization of previous local voter-approved funding overwhelmingly adopted by voters in 2012 and 2016.  In 2016, Measure V’s official ballot materials stated:

“…city council has pledged that this tax will be used only for the repair and maintenance of City streets, the hiring and retention of police officers, and related activities. To this end, the initiative also creates a citizens’ oversight committee which is charged with the duty to review the expenditure of all funds collected pursuant to this tax and publicly report its findings.”

Since being adopted and reauthorized by Ridgecrest voters in 2012 and 2016, the City of Ridgecrest has been accountable to local voters on the use of Measure V funds.  To view historical Measure V Independent Oversight Committee Reports, visit https://ridgecrest-ca.gov/241/Measure-V-Oversight-Committee

Ridgecrest voters will also have the opportunity to choose the City’s mayor and two councilmembers. 

For more information visit the links below.

*This is for informational purposes only.  The City of Ridgecrest does not advocate for or against Measure V.

Voter Information

Ridgecrest's 2024 Municipal Ballot will ask voters to decide on the following: 

• The City's Mayor
• Two Councilmembers
• Measure V - "Ridgecrest Public Safety and Essential Services Reauthorization Measure" (Reauthorization of Measure V)

Vote-by-mail Ballots will be mailed to active registered voters.
To track your Vote-by-mail Ballot visit: www.California.Ballottrax.net or click here.

Update your voter registration or register to vote at: RegistertoVote.ca.gov or click here.

Ridgecrest residents can apply for Conditional Voter Registration at Ridgecrest polling locations through Election Day (November 5th). 

All Vote-by-Mail Ballots must be postmarked by November 5th and received no later than November 12th to be counted.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th - Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Links:

County Registrar of Voters 
Email the City Clerk
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
City Council Resolution & Ordinance Placing Measure V on the ballot (agenda item 6.)
Municipal Information Presentation
Ballot Argument In Favor of Measure V
Ballot Argument Against Measure V (no ballot argument against filed)
Impartial Analysis