With a vibrant downtown, safe neighborhoods and well-maintained parks and beaches, the City of Manhattan Beach provides an excellent quality of life for its approximately 35,000 residents. The City maintains 100 miles of streets and sidewalks, nine community facilities, and 122 acres of parks and playfields, as well as providing rapid 9-1-1 emergency response, fire protection, neighborhood police patrols, and programs for children, families, and seniors.

Locally Controlled Funding for Essential City Services and Improvements
Approximately 61% of sales tax revenue collected in Manhattan Beach is paid by visitors shopping in Manhattan Beach. Currently, the sales tax rate in Manhattan Beach is lower than many nearby communities. The Manhattan Beach City Council placed a measure on the November 2024 ballot, asking voters to increase the local sales tax rate by one-half cent. This measure would bring Manhattan Beach’s sales tax rate in line with nearby communities and generate an estimated $5.3 million in local funding for essential services, such as:

• Fixing potholes and maintaining City streets
• Keeping sidewalks, infrastructure, and parks safe, clean, and well-maintained
• Improving e-bike traffic enforcement and safety
• Making improvements to roads, intersections, bike lanes, and signals to improve traffic safety and reduce congestion
• Expanding sidewalks downtown to allow outdoor dining and improved access
• Repairing and upgrading aging community facilities

Fiscal Accountability Protections Keep All Funds Local

• Revenue from the measure could not be taken by the County or other special districts, ensuring local control and reinvestment back into the community to fund essential services and facilities here in Manhattan Beach
• Independent audits will be conducted annually on the City’s expenditures and all of funds would be used locally for the upkeep of City operations and maintenance of municipal facilities and infrastructure
• Essential purchases like groceries and prescription medicine are exempted from sales tax. Visit the California Department of Tax and Fees Administration’s website for full details about sales tax exemptions
• A sizable amount of the funding raised by the sales tax will be paid by nonresidents visiting Manhattan Beach

FEQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS