Los Angeles Voters Weigh Fire Department Sales Tax
Measure FD would raise the city sales tax by 0.5% to fund the Los Angeles Fire Department after the Palisades Fire.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Saving
Live Poll
Should Los Angeles raise the sales tax by 0.5% to fund the fire department?
Los Angeles voters will decide on Measure FD, a proposed 0.5% city sales tax increase that would lift the sales tax rate from 10.25% to 10.75%. The measure would raise about $345 million annually for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Why it matters
The Los Angeles Fire Department is largely funded by the city's general fund, and the measure was proposed after the 2025 Palisades Fire destroyed thousands of homes and killed a dozen people. Supporters and opponents disagree over whether new dedicated funding is the right response.
The City Clerk's Office estimates Measure FD would raise about $345 million annually, a 0.5% increase from 10.25% to 10.75% that would be measured against the city's $15 billion budget. The outcome of the vote on November 3, 2026 remains unknown.
The players
Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)
The LAFD is the municipal fire agency serving the city of Los Angeles, and it is the department the sales tax would fund.
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112
Local 112 is the labor union representing Los Angeles city firefighters, and it supports the measure.
Los Angeles Police Protective League
The League is the labor union representing Los Angeles police officers, and it opposes the sales tax hike.
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is a California taxpayer advocacy group that opposes the measure.
The details
Under Measure FD, 100% of money raised by the tax would be allocated to LAFD services, and the measure would take effect next year if approved. An LAFD After Action Report detailed difficulties from limited staffing and aging apparatus, and United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 supports the measure while the Los Angeles Police Protective League and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association oppose it.
Timeline
2025: The Palisades Fire destroys thousands of homes and kills a dozen people.
November 3, 2026: Voters decide on Measure FD.
2027: Measure FD takes effect if approved.
Saving
Measure FD would add 0.5 percentage points to the Los Angeles sales tax, following the city's existing 10.25% rate, and represents a dedicated funding response to the 2025 Palisades Fire rather than general fund allocation.
If approved, the sales tax in Los Angeles would rise from 10.25% to 10.75%, so every taxable purchase in the city would cost slightly more. Households should factor the higher rate into monthly spending plans if the measure passes.
The takeaway
A half-point sales tax increase may look small per purchase, but it compounds across a household's annual spending, so reviewing a monthly budget now can help absorb the change if voters approve Measure FD.
What happens next
Voters decide on Measure FD on November 3, 2026, and the tax would take effect in 2027 if approved.
Further reading
For broader context on protecting household budgets, see Saving guidance on how tax changes affect everyday spending.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
Live Poll
Should Los Angeles raise the sales tax by 0.5% to fund the fire department?
