Pasadena’s revenue from the base Bradley-Burns 1% sales tax increased 1.4% in the first quarter of 2026, a smaller gain than the increases recorded statewide and countywide over the same three months, Finance Director Karin Schnaider said in announcing the City’s receipt of the quarterly data.
The Pasadena figure reflects adjustments for late or missing payments, audit corrections and one-time anomalies. Sales tax revenues for the January-to-March quarter increased 4% in the state of California and 4.2% countywide in Los Angeles.
Measure I tax returns reflected a 2.9% increase in revenue.
Business and Industry, General Consumer Goods and the County pool allocation accounted for more than 70% of the quarter’s increase. That was mitigated by a continued decline in the Auto and Transportation, fuel and food categories.
The Business and Industry category, as well as the related growth in the County pool allocation, are considered one-time payments.
Measure I growth continues to outpace the Bradley-Burns Sales Tax because of online sales growth, primarily in General Consumer Goods, though declines were reported in the Auto and Transportation categories.
On an ongoing basis, the City’s Bradley-Burns Sales Tax is expected to remain relatively flat this fiscal year, with an anticipated moderate increase of 1.2% next year. The City’s Measure I Transaction and Use Tax is likewise expected to remain relatively flat this fiscal year, with an anticipated moderate increase of 2.5% next year.
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