Information about Measure BB

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

Copy of Measure BB_Web

What's New?

Final results of the November 5, 2024 election can be found here. Measure BB was approved by voters with 26,988 votes (83.77%) in favor and 5,228 votes (16.23%) opposed. Additional details about the implementation of Measure BB will be shared prior to summer 2025.

Information

On July 22, the Redwood City Council unanimously voted to place Measure BB on the November 2024 ballot. Measure BB proposes modernizing the City’s current 57-year-old business license tax structure.

Currently, small local businesses pay a proportionately higher tax than large businesses.

If enacted, Measure BB modernizes the current business license tax structure by adjusting tax rates based on the business category, with the highest fee on larger industries and businesses. Doing so means large businesses pay a higher proportionate amount of business tax, while small retail and commercial businesses would have a lower per-employee tax rate.

By law, all Measure BB funds must be spent for the benefit of the Redwood City community and cannot be taken by Sacramento.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

What is Measure BB?

After several months of engagement with local business leaders, stakeholders and community members, the Redwood City Council unanimously placed Measure BB on the November 2024 ballot to modernize the current business license tax. The ballot question is as follows:

Shall the measure to maintain local city services, such as: maintaining 911 emergency response/neighborhood police patrols; fixing potholes, repairing streets/sidewalks; maintaining on-duty firefighters/paramedics; and storm drains to prevent flooding; by modernizing the City of Redwood City business license tax base, and per employee rates between $10 and $250, with the highest fee on larger businesses, for general government use, as described in the ordinance, providing approximately $7,000,000 annually, until ended by voters, be adopted?

YES

What’s the issue with the current business license tax?

Under Redwood City’s current 57-year-old business license tax structure, small local businesses are paying a proportionately higher tax than large businesses. If enacted, Measure BB modernizes the business license tax structure by adjusting tax rates based on the business category, with the highest fee on larger industries and businesses. Small retail and commercial businesses would have a lower per-employee tax rate, and all childcare providers would be exempt from the business license tax.

I’m not a local business. Why should I vote on this?

If enacted, Measure BB will provide locally controlled funding from the City's largest businesses to provide local services. By law, all Measure BB funds must be spent for Redwood City residents and cannot be taken by Sacramento. In a 2024 community survey and subsequent outreach efforts, residents identified the following 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/sidewalks; maintaining storm drains to prevent flooding and water pollution; and maintaining parks, open space, and sports fields.

Is the City fiscally responsible?

What else is on our local Redwood City Ballot?

How can I register to vote?

Where can I get more information?

Quick Links

For more information on Measure BB and the City of Redwood City’s Municipal Election, please visit the links below.