EL CAJON, Calif. – City of El Cajon leaders are sounding alarm as the City's half-cent sales tax, which has been in place in the City for nearly two decades, is set to expire in 2028.
“Proposition J expires, which is going to give us a $13 million a year deficit," El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells said.Wells and the City said that approximately $13 million in annual revenue from the tax makes up about 14% of El Cajon's general fund, which is vital for the police and fire departments, as well as for maintaining parks and infrastructure.
Heartland Fire and Rescue Chief Bent Koch told ABC 10News that if the sales tax is not extended, the department's work could be extremely difficult. The City is trying to understand how voters would feel if it put an extension for Prop J on the November ballot.