SANTEE, San Diego County — October 26, 2026. Santee voters will decide Measure Y on November 3, a proposed 1% local sales tax designed to raise an estimated $14 million per year for city services and infrastructure over ten years.
What it would cost and how long it lasts
Santee currently lists a combined local sales-tax rate of 7.75%. The proposed one-percentage-point city tax would generally bring that to 8.75%, adding $1 of local tax per $100 of taxable purchases. Unlike some other city proposals without an automatic expiration date, the official Santee ballot language specifies a ten-year term.
What public needs are cited?
The city names fixing streets and potholes; fire stations and response equipment; storm drains; traffic management; parks, sidewalks and public facilities; paramedic, crime-prevention and 911 service. This is still a general tax: listing possible uses does not mean the measure guarantees that any particular road or fire station receives a fixed allocation.
Who would oversee the funds?
The city says Measure Y includes annual independent audits and an independent citizens’ oversight committee. The city’s explanation contrasts the proposal with the 1% share Santee already receives from the existing overall sales-tax rate. Tax receipts depend on actual taxable spending, so $14 million is an estimate.
A yes vote approves the proposed ten-year tax; a no vote rejects it. The measure has not been adopted as of this report. California58 provides a nonpartisan summary. Read the Santee government’s Measure Y information and ballot wording and the relevant San Diego County official voter guide.
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