After several weeks of discussion, the City Council on Monday will decide whether to ask voters to approve a new parcel tax expected to generate approximately $22.1 million annually for the city’s Fire Department, setting up what could become one of the most closely watched local ballot measures this November.
The proposed Pasadena Fire, Wildfire, Emergency Preparedness and Response Parcel Tax would levy 19 cents per square foot on improved properties in the first fiscal year to provide a dedicated funding source, $22.1 million a year, for fire protection, paramedic services, wildfire mitigation, emergency communications and long-delayed upgrades to aging fire stations and equipment.
“Today, rising wildfire risk, increasing climate driven emergencies, and growing sen/ice demands require a strengthened and modernized emergency response system,” according to a City staff report. “The Fire Department must maintain the ability to respond effectively to wildfires, earthquakes, major storms, and other emergency events that threaten life and property.”
According to the report, as wildfire behavior becomes more unpredictable and intense, the City’s emergency response system must be updated with modern communication systems, reliable alerting technology, and year-round wildfire mitigation tools and programs.
Emergency medical service (EMS) calls now comprise the majority of the department’s response.
City officials say the measure is needed as wildfire threats continue to intensify, emergency medical calls account for the majority of Fire Department responses and several fire stations require significant renovation or replacement.
The 2025 Eaton Fire killed 19 people, destroyed more than 9,000 buildings and scorched 14,000 acres.
According to a City staff report, Pasadena’s General Fund is no longer sufficient to meet the department’s long-term operational and infrastructure needs. The city has increasingly relied on one-time revenues and reserves while demand for fire and emergency medical services has continued to grow.
Revenue generated by the tax would be restricted to fire and emergency services, including wildfire prevention and brush clearance programs, upgrading 911 communications systems, replacing aging firefighting equipment, enhancing paramedic response capabilities and constructing or modernizing emergency response facilities identified in the department’s 2026-2036 Strategic Plan.
Other priorities include rebuilding Fire Stations 33 and 37, establishing a dedicated fire headquarters and training center, and expanding staffing and emergency preparedness programs.
The ballot measure also includes accountability provisions requiring annual independent financial audits, public disclosure of expenditures and the creation of a dedicated fund that can be used only for voter-approved purposes. The proposal includes an exemption for qualifying low-income senior property owners.
If approved by the Council, the measure will appear on the Nov. 3 General Municipal Election ballot alongside the statewide general election.
Because it is a special tax, the measure would require approval from two-thirds of the votes cast on it.
Passing the parcel tax could be an uphill battle. Voters recently passed parcel taxes for the Central Library and a parcel tax for the school district.
In correspondence to the City Council business leaders said they understood the need for an effective fire department, but urged the Council to slow down or to keep the measure off the ballot.
“This is a difficult decision that you are being asked to make very quickly,” said Paul Little, president and chief executive officer of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association. “Perhaps more time is needed to adequately consider costs, impacts to all constituent groups and provide more details on the projects being funded.”
Christopher Bowen director of government and public affairs building owners and managers association, Greater Los Angeles said, the City’s Pasadena’s commercial properties are already confronting elevated vacancies, declining property values, and rapidly increasing insurance, utility, maintenance, and financing costs.
“A parcel tax would impose another fixed expense regardless of a property’s occupancy or financial performance. These costs would ultimately discourage building improvements, delay redevelopment, increase pressure on local businesses, and make Pasadena less competitive with neighboring jurisdictions.”
Monday’s action would formally call the election, request consolidation with Los Angeles County’s statewide election, establish procedures for ballot arguments and direct the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis of the measure.
The Council directed staff on July 13 to prepare the necessary resolutions following an initial presentation on the proposal.
The City estimates it will cost approximately $436,660 to place the measure on the November ballot. Those costs are included in the City Clerk’s Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget.
Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
