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Redwood City residents will decide whether to move forward with a new business license tax measure (Measure BB), which seeks to adjust tax rates based on business category, with the highest rate going to larger industries and businesses.
This means that large businesses pay a higher proportional amount of business taxes, while small retail and commercial businesses would have a lower tax rate per employee.
The measure, which is on the November 5 ballot, proposes to modernize the City's current business license tax structure, with taxes that could range from $10 to $250 per employee, providing approximately $7 million annually.
The estimated $7 million that would be generated annually would go into the city's General Fund, which can be used for street repairs, police and fire services and other city services.
Currently, small local businesses pay a proportionally higher tax compared to large companies.
If Measure BB passes, small retail and commercial businesses would have a lower per-employee tax rate, and all child care providers would be exempt from the business license tax.
Additionally, this Measure BB would provide locally controlled funding to the city's largest businesses to provide local services.
In a 2024 community survey and subsequent outreach efforts, residents identified as community priorities: maintaining 911 emergency response times, neighborhood police patrols, crime prevention, and on-duty firefighters, paramedics, and police officers; fixing potholes and repairing streets and sidewalks; maintaining storm drains to prevent flooding and water pollution; and maintaining parks, open spaces, and sports fields, which Measure BB would serve.
It should be noted that the City would be fiscally responsible, as all Redwood City funds are subject to financial accountability requirements, including independent financial audits and annual reports to the community on City expenditures.
Regarding Measure BB specifically, all Measure BB funds must be spent for Redwood City residents and Sacramento cannot take them.
The question that appears on the ballot is as follows:
Redwood City voters in City Council Districts 1, 3, 4 and 7 will also have the opportunity to elect a City Council member.
Redwood City voters who live in the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District will also be voting on District Measure P. Voters in Redwood City School Districts 1 and 4 are eligible to elect members of the Board of Trustees.
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