Measure Z Community Meetings in Riverside

Riverside is holding four neighborhood meetings this spring to answer resident questions about Measure Z before the June 2, 2026 ballot. (raincrossgazette.com) The first meeting was held April 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. at La Sierra Senior Center, 5215 La Sierra Ave., for residents in Wards 6 and 7. The city lists three more sessions on April 30, May 6, and May 21 at centers in other parts of Riverside. (raincrossgazette.com) Ward 1 and Ward 2 residents are scheduled to meet April 30 at 6 p.m. at Bordwell Park/Stratton Center, 2008 Martin Luther King Blvd. Ward 4’s meeting is set for May 6 at 5 p.m. at Orange Terrace Center, 20010 Orange Terrace Pkwy., and Wards 3 and 5 are scheduled for May 21 at 6 p.m. at Janet Goeske Senior Center, 5257 Sierra St. (raincrossgazette.com) Measure Z is Riverside’s voter-approved transaction and use tax, a local sales-tax-style levy first approved in November 2016. The current rate is 1 percent with a 2036 sunset, and the June ballot measure would raise it to 1.25 percent and remove the expiration date. (riversideca.gov, raincrossgazette.com) City event pages say the renewed tax would support general local services including 911, fire and police response, keeping public areas safe and clean, homelessness work, and pothole and road repairs. The city describes the meetings as a place for residents to ask questions and review election information and other resources. (riversideca.gov, riversideca.gov) The measure is legally a general tax, which means the money goes into Riverside’s general fund rather than being locked to the services named in campaign materials. Raincross Gazette reported that distinction has become part of the public debate ahead of the June vote. (raincrossgazette.com, raincrossgazette.com) That debate reached court in March, when Riverside resident Jason Hunter sued over the ballot title and question. Hunter argued the wording was misleading because general-fund revenue is not legally guaranteed for emergency services, while the city said its language had been reviewed by the city attorney’s office and matched past practice. (raincrossgazette.com) The tax has been central to Riverside budgeting since 2016, when city officials said they were trying to restore about $11 million in service cuts and address more than $40 million in other needs. The city’s Measure Z implementation page says those needs included police and fire staffing, road and tree maintenance, and building repairs. (riversideca.gov) The meetings give Riverside voters one more public venue to press city officials on where Measure Z money goes before ballots are cast on June 2. (raincrossgazette.com)