Los Angeles voters appear to have approved a ballot initiative that would increase the city’s sales tax by one-half percent to provide approximately $345 million annually in additional funding for the Los Angeles Fire Department. Measure FD, which appeared on the November 3, 2026 ballot, would increase the city’s sales tax from 10.25% to 10.75%, with the additional revenue dedicated exclusively to fire department operations.

The measure was spearheaded by United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, the union representing the department’s rank-and-file firefighters. The union argued that decades of inadequate funding had left the department understaffed and operating with aging apparatus and facilities, despite substantial increases in emergency call volume. According to the Los Angeles City Clerk’s official voter information pamphlet, the additional $345 million annually would be used to hire and retain firefighters, paramedics and civilian personnel; purchase and maintain fire engines, trucks, ambulances, aircraft and other emergency vehicles; replace aging equipment; renovate existing fire stations and construct new ones; upgrade emergency communications systems; and improve brush clearance and wildfire preparedness.

An important provision of Measure FD prohibits the city from using the new tax revenue to replace existing fire department appropriations. The city must continue allocating at least the average percentage of its discretionary budget that it provided to the fire department during the preceding ten fiscal years. If the city fails to maintain that funding level, it cannot collect the additional sales tax for that fiscal year. The measure also establishes annual auditing requirements and a five-member citizens’ oversight advisory committee.

Unlike a tax increase initiated by the City Council, Measure FD originated as a citizen initiative supported by a petition drive that collected more than 225,000 signatures. The City Council voted 14-0 in June to place the measure on the November ballot, but that vote did not enact the tax. Instead, it submitted the proposed ordinance to the voters for approval.

The distinction is significant under California law. A special tax proposed by a local governing body generally requires approval by two-thirds of the voters under Proposition 218. However, the California Supreme Court has held that the constitutional restrictions governing taxes imposed by local governments do not necessarily apply to taxes proposed through the citizen initiative process. As a result, Measure FD required only a simple majority of the votes cast, rather than a two-thirds majority.

The measure provides that the additional tax will remain in effect until repealed by voters. The revenue will be deposited into a dedicated fire department fund rather than the city’s general fund. As of November 4, ABC7 reports Measure FD leading with approximately 54% voting yes and 46% voting no, with counting continuing. More on the story.

Incidentally, 48 states allow some form of citizen initiative or referendum at the local level, according to Ballotpedia. However, only 24 states permit statewide citizen initiatives, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.