Oceanside plans to boost spending on crime suppression, e-bike enforcement and homelessness prevention this year using higher-than-expected revenue from the Measure X half-cent sales tax hike approved by voters.
“Revenue has exceeded what had been projected and staff has been able to secure other sources of funding, which has further enabled the city to stretch Measure X dollars,” states a Jan. 22 report from the city manager’s office to the Measure X Citizens Oversight Committee.
A preliminary spending plan approved June 4 by the Oceanside City Council detailed the allocation of $17,970,536 for the seventh year of the tax, which city voters approved in November 2018 for specific uses including law enforcement, homelessness prevention and some infrastructure projects. A revised spending plan presented to the oversight committee on Jan. 22 totals $18,400,536 in spending.
The committee unanimously recommended the City Council’s approval of the revisions when it reviews the proposal at a council meeting in a few weeks.
The Police Department’s crime suppression team will see a $200,000 increase for a total of $700,000 of Measure X money this year.
“Historically, the crime suppression team has been staffed solely by officers with other regular assignments working overtime,” the report states. “This change will allow the Police Department to now place two full-time officers in crime suppression as their primary assignments.”
Also, the city is allocating $200,000 for a new homeless outreach program called the Homeless Engagement, Assistance and Resource Team (H.E.A.R.T.) that will work with the Police Department’s homeless outreach team to coordinate various assistance programs.
City staffers carved out $25,000 for additional e-bike and and traffic enforcement. Earlier this month the City Council approved an updated ordinance that allows police to impound e-bikes from unsafe or illegal riders.
“This $25,000 will staff two officers, twice per month, for the next six months, for five hours of overtime specifically dedicated to quality-of-life enforcement focused on e-bikes and vehicles emitting loud music or exhaust,” the city report states.
Also recommended is an additional $150,000 for the city’s safe parking program. The City Council approved a contract in December 2024 with the nonprofit Dreams for Change to operate Oceanside’s first safe overnight parking lot on Apple Street with room for 25 to 30 vehicles.
The additional allocations total more than the anticipated increase in revenue. Some of the money will come from an unspent balance in the budget that, after the proposed changes, will be $750,000 in the seventh year.
Originally, this year was to be the final year of the tax. However, Oceanside voters approved a 10-year extension in November 2024 taking it through April 2036.
