How Chula Vista Plans to Spend its Measure P Money

Chula Vista voters overwhelmingly agreed to another decade of paying more taxes to continue funding public projects. Now, the city will begin working as early as next week on how to spend the money.

The half-cent sales tax known as Measure P has collected about $190 million from taxpayers since 2017 and funded a wide range of infrastructure upgrades to parks, streets, emergency equipment, storm drains and more.

Chula Vista would have faced a growing gap in its infrastructure funding, but betting on voters in November paid off, as 73% of residents voted to extend the tax. It allows the city to collect a projected $37 million annually through 2037.

Staff will begin collecting renewed recommendations from councilmembers and the existing Measure P Citizens’ Oversight Committee to update spending plans, a city spokesperson said.

How to attend the Measure P committee meeting

The committee meets this week.

Officials also asked the public for recommendations on how to spend the tax revenue before the election. A survey between June and August of about 2,500 residents showed the most support for repairing streets, addressing encampments and upgrading stormwater drains.

According to the city’s most recent three-year outlook, some of the costliest upcoming projects include more than $2.2 million in heating and air conditioning upgrades for police and library systems; $850,000 to upgrade walkways to make them wheelchair accessible; and a $750,000 roof replacement for a public works building.

The tax has already funded several notable projects, including the redo of the Loma Verde Community Center; replacing the Moss Street and Orange Avenue fire stations; and bathroom roofing at Lauderbach Park in the Castle Park neighborhood.

Rohr Park, Chula Vista’s largest, received a new outdoor fitness center under Measure P in 2022. Its popular 3-mile walking path is also expected to undergo at least $100,000 in improvements that will be funded by the tax.

“These paths need to be fixed, above all,” resident Julisa Arias said in Spanish while using the trail last week. “There are several potholes that need to be fixed.”

The San Diego County Taxpayers Association supported the renewal of Measure P, pointing to the tax having an expiration date and the city following through with its infrastructure goals. City officials have also indicated they won’t be seeking a third extension, the group said.

“The extension of the Measure will allow the City to continue their ability to finance the projects that focus on maintaining the City’s infrastructure, facilities, and equipment, resulting in a better quality of life,” the group’s report said.

Read the rest of the story at inewsource.org.