Oxnard Measure C Sales Tax Referendum Targets Road and Transit Funding for Local Workers

Oxnard voters will consider Measure C on the November 2026 ballot, a proposal to raise the local sales tax rate by one-half cent to support road maintenance and public transit upgrades. The measure applies to all taxable purchases within city limits and would affect an estimated 202,000 residents plus visitors who shop at local stores and restaurants.

The ballot item reaches voters at a time when the city’s 2025-2026 fiscal year budget already lists deferred pavement work on major corridors such as Oxnard Boulevard and Ventura Road. City finance documents tie the timing to higher material costs and increased truck traffic serving the Port of Hueneme and nearby farms.

Effects on Resident Travel and Household Costs

Policy analysts note that the added tax would collect roughly eight cents on a typical $16 grocery purchase. Local advocates point out that expanded bus routes could shorten wait times for workers traveling from east Oxnard neighborhoods to packing houses and distribution centers. The same revenue stream is projected to cover repaving of residential streets in the La Colonia and Ormond Beach areas where potholes have been logged in public works reports.

City budget papers show that Oxnard allocated $4.8 million for street resurfacing in the current fiscal year. Measure C would supplement that amount without raising property taxes, according to the ordinance text placed on the ballot by the city council.

Next Steps for Implementation

If approved, the tax would take effect on April 1 2027 and remain in place for ten years unless extended by a future vote. The city manager’s office has stated that quarterly reports on spending would be posted on the municipal website for public review. Residents can examine the full measure language and fiscal impact statement at Oxnard City Hall or on the Ventura County elections office site before early voting begins in October.