Your sales tax measure passed .... now what?

BY JENNY WINDLE

It's no surprise that there's more to a presidential election year than the top of the ticket. For local governments, it's a great time to place measures on the ballot and leverage the high turnout that only happens every four years.

To that end, there were dozens of local measures on ballots this year in California alone, ranging in topics from housing, to taxation, to environmental policies.  

Many municipalities also sought sales tax increases, an effective way to bolster locally controlled revenues. We had the pleasure of helping several communities with their successful initiatives this year. Now, we’re getting ready for what’s next.

Keeping the Public Trust

Success at the ballot box is a great indicator that you have public trust. But trust is fragile, and it’s more important than ever that you work to keep it. A great way to do this is through a targeted and sustained communications effort post election.

Kick off the campaign with a sincere thank you to voters. They’ve put their trust in you, and that is something not to be taken for granted, especially these days. Underscore your gratitude for this, and lay out plans for how you will steward the funds now and into the future.

Because it can often take months – even years – to get some sales-tax funded projects off the ground, be sure to openly explain plans with timelines and processes, including whether there will be touchpoints for community input.

And because the public can also be impatient, be sure to report out any immediate or short-term wins that the ballot measure has facilitated. That stretch of sidewalk that was repaired or that new patrol officer added to your city’s fleet– talk about it! There’s no win too small in sustaining public support.

Communicate the Bigger Picture

While showcasing specific projects funded by the new sales tax, it’s equally important to remind residents of the overarching goals these initiatives support. Whether the measure was intended to enhance public safety, revitalize neighborhoods, or maintain critical services, reinforcing how each project contributes to long-term community resilience and quality of life helps keep the community engaged and supportive.

Anticipate Challenges

Of course, no implementation is without its obstacles. Whether due to economic shifts, supply chain issues, or unforeseen delays, it’s important to communicate these challenges openly. Addressing challenges head-on with clear, honest messaging builds credibility. Demonstrating the proactive steps you’re taking to navigate these hurdles can reaffirm the community's confidence in their leaders.

Getting Started

To help get these efforts started, we’ve developed a handy Post-Election Community Engagement Toolkit that includes tons of ideas for key messages, considerations for your tactical approach, and inspiration for how to keep momentum moving from the ballot box through to implementation.

If you’re ready to take your post-measure outreach to the next level, download our toolkit today for $45 and/or reach out us at [email protected] to learn how we can support your team.