In a unanimous decision on August 3, the Milpitas City Council approved placing a measure on the November 3 ballot to overhaul the city’s 50-year-old business tax framework. Currently, smaller businesses can pay over 70 times more per employee than large corporations. The proposed measure aims to correct this imbalance by implementing a flat annual rate for all businesses, alongside an additional levy ranging from 0.025% to 0.035% (25 to 35 cents per $1,000) on gross receipts for larger enterprises exceeding $700,000 in annual revenue.
Community Engagement and Intended Fund Allocation:
City Manager Willie Hopkins noted that the ballot measure followed a six-month outreach initiative involving local business owners, stakeholders, and over 700 residents. The newly generated local revenue is targeted toward several key municipal improvements, including:
Cleaning up and preventing illegal dumping and neighborhood blight.
Addressing homelessness through shelter placement, treatment, and supportive services.
Replacing aging sewer and water lines while repairing stormwater drains.
Maintaining clean, well-kept neighborhood streets and sidewalks.
Community members can review the full local funding resolution directly through the Milpitas City Resolution Portal.
Milpitas Unified School District Oversight Opening:
In separate local developments, the Milpitas Unified School District’s Citizen Bond Oversight Committee is actively accepting applications to fill an open community member seat. This state-mandated committee comprises local residents tasked with overseeing approximately $284 million in school facilities bonds approved by voters back in November 2018. The committee convenes quarterly to monitor bond construction progress, expenditure reports, and conduct site visits to completed projects. Interested residents can find more information and apply via the Milpitas Unified School District Portal.
