Oceanside Voters to Decide on Another Sales Tax Measure

Oceanside voters will decide on a half-cent sales tax increase this election. City officials say it will help pay for the aging Oceanside Pier and other critical infrastructure projects, but the proposed increase comes just two years after voters approved a different sales tax measure in 2024.

The new measure is called Measure S. It proposes a half-cent sales tax increase that would bring the city’s sales tax rate to 8.75 percent, on par with eight other cities in San Diego County, including San Marcos, Del Mar, Escondido and Solana Beach.

It’s predicted to bring in around $20 million per year in revenue and would sunset after 10 years. The city would also create a citizen’s oversight committee to monitor spending and a new fund so the public can easily track spending.

Councilmembers decided, unanimously, to put the tax on the ballot in large part because of the needs of the Oceanside Pier. The cement bridge under the pier is just a few years shy of reaching the end of its useful life, and the city needs $60 million to fix it, they said. City officials have also said funds from the measure would be used for road repairs, beach replenishment, replacing aging facilities and more.