City Council Special Meeting - May, 11 2026

The City Council of Palmdale held a special meeting on May 11, 2026, primarily to discuss and adopt a resolution opposing Measure ER, a Los Angeles countywide tax initiative on the June 2026 ballot that would increase sales taxes by 0.5%. Council members debated amendments to the resolution's language to clarify the city's position and concerns about the disproportionate tax burden on Palmdale residents, who already face high transportation costs and a high overall tax rate. The council acknowledged that the measure's funds would go to the county rather than directly benefiting Palmdale, and discussed the limitations on the city's ability to raise local taxes due to state legislation and the potential cumulative tax rate reaching 12.25%. While the resolution was adopted with amendments, council members expressed interest in grassroots efforts to inform residents and explore legislative advocacy to seek exemptions or caps on sales tax increases. No direct budget appropriations or spending decisions were made during the meeting, but the council directed staff to continue legal analysis and intergovernmental coordination related to countywide tax policy and local fiscal autonomy.