On August 3, via unanimous vote of the City Council, the “City of Milpitas Local Funding Measure” was placed on the November 2026 ballot. If enacted, the measure will be paid only by Milpitas businesses and will not raise taxes for residents.
Today, some smaller businesses pay over 70 times more per employee than what larger businesses and corporations pay. If approved by voters, the measure will update Milpitas’ 50-year-old business tax structure to address this disparity and ensure that large businesses contribute more than smaller businesses to fund essential city services.
“The proposed measure was placed on the ballot following a six-month engagement effort with Milpitas business owners and stakeholders, as well as more than 700 residents,” said City Manager Willie Hopkins. “We are thankful for all who shared their perspectives and feedback – especially our small business owners – which was utilized significantly in developing the measure.”
In a recent community survey, 83% of respondents indicated they are satisfied with the quality of life in Milpitas. If enacted, funds generated by the measure will help the City maintain essential city services and the City’s fiscal stability. All funds must also be invested locally to benefit Milpitas residents and no funds from this measure can be taken by the county, state, or federal governments.
“The City needs additional local funding to help clean up and prevent illegal dumping/neighborhood blight, and address homelessness by helping move people off the street and into shelter, treatment, and supportive services to ensure Milpitas is safe and clean,” continued City Manager Willie Hopkins.
If enacted, the measure will also assist the City in addressing community priorities, such as replacing aging water and sewer lines; repairing storm drains; increasing the number of local good-paying jobs; and keeping neighborhood streets and sidewalks clean and well-maintained.
All City of Milpitas public funds are subject to strict fiscal accountability provisions, including full public disclosure of all spending.
If approved by voters, all businesses would pay an annual flat rate, while larger businesses with more than $700,000 in annual gross receipts would also pay between 0.025% and 0.035% (25 to 35 cents per 1,000 dollars) on that amount.
For more information, view the full City of Milpitas Local Funding Measure resolution at https://milpitas.info/CertReso
About the City of Milpitas
Located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay, Milpitas is a progressive community that is an integral part of Silicon Valley. A full-service city with water utility, sewer utility, police and fire services, Milpitas is a flourishing community with a very diverse and inclusive resident population of over 80,000. Often referred to as the Crossroads of Silicon Valley, the City is situated between major thoroughfares in the Bay Area and considered a highly desirable location for world-class technology companies seeking to build a central base of operations. With the addition of the new Milpitas Transit Center offering BART, light rail, and bus service and multiple new mixed-use development projects, along with a host of new City Plans and Programs in support of an inspiring and sustainable future, the City is at the forefront of building the next generation economy. For more information, visit: www.milpitas.gov