On Tuesday afternoon, the Sutter County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to place the "Sutter County Safety/Water Protection Measure" on the November ballot.

If approved, the measure would enact a 1-cent sales tax until ended by voters, shared by the County and the Cities of Live Oak and Yuba City, to help fund basic services residents have identified as priorities: adequate drinking water supplies, fire protection, 911 response, sheriff and police services, and road repairs, among other items, with funds that the State of California can’t take. The measure was developed in collaboration with leaders from Live Oak and Yuba City and crafted in response to community input.

As part of its budget and long-term planning, the County worked with Live Oak and Yuba City to gather resident feedback through community meetings, mail, phone, email, and online outreach. Over 1,800 residents responded, and fire, drinking water, and public safety emerged as top concerns.

"Sutter County residents have told us loud and clear that maintaining basic safety, water, and street services matter to them," said Sutter County CAO Steven Smith. "Because of actions by the State of California, we've already made significant cuts to non-safety services, and more cuts are coming — this time to fire, sheriff, and 911 response. Sutter County residents should decide what happens next, and this November they'll get that chance."

A recent grand jury report found that Sutter County and Live Oak face serious fire protection problems, including outdated equipment, staffing shortages, and insufficient funding. Another Grand Jury report found that Yuba City's road repair funding is "severely deficient," with conditions worsening as the city grows.

"Any emergency — a heart attack or a house fire — requires a rapid response. Today, as few as three sheriff's patrols cover as much as 600 miles in Sutter County, and in some parts of the County, it now takes up to 15 minutes for 911 emergency medical or fire help to arrive - and more cuts are ahead," continued Smith. "The funding this measure would provide can help keep response times low, protect our community, and keep all local fire stations open. This action will provide Sutter County voters the opportunity to decide on enacting local funding to address these basic services."

The measure as written includes strong accountability safeguards, requiring citizen oversight, independent audits, and public disclosure of spending. By law, every dollar must be spent in Sutter County — including Live Oak and Yuba City — and cannot be taken by the State.

The County will continue sharing information about the measure and how to participate in the November 2026 election, including federal changes affecting mail ballot voting.

For more information, visit sutter.gov.

###