Arcata’s City Council moved its tax renewal and budget plans forward together June 17, voting 5-0 to place Measure G renewal on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot and adopting the city’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget.
Staff said the budget totals $95 million and includes a $25,000 placeholder for a climate action manager position, while council also approved a temporary hiring freeze that had been adopted June 3, according to the June 17 agenda packet. The meeting materials also say the council adopted the city’s appropriations limit for the coming fiscal year.
The Measure G renewal would send the city’s 3/4-cent transactions and use tax back to voters. Council also requested an impartial analysis of the measure, and the June 17 agenda packet says the city’s election resolution called for the Nov. 3 general municipal election.
The same meeting also included other finance-related actions, including a budget discussion that referenced pressure from sales tax, transient occupancy tax and personnel costs, according to the meeting summary. The council’s budget package also came alongside a climate-action staffing placeholder and the hiring freeze, showing the city trimming and prioritizing spending as it heads into the new fiscal year.
The June 17 agenda packet and meeting recording support the account of the votes and budget actions. The agenda materials also point to open questions that remain, including final ballot language and any formal ballot arguments once filed.
