What contributes to the City of Santee’s quality of life?
The City of Santee is one of the best places to live in San Diego County, and is known for its strong local economy, low crime rate, and high quality of life. Santee is committed to keeping the city safe, clean, and well maintained, preserving residents’ quality of life and what makes Santee a special place to live. As Santee experiences growth and aging infrastructure, it is important to maintain the community facilities and services that make it special.
What challenges does the City of Santee face?
Since 1964, Santee’s population has grown from 11,000 residents to nearly 60,000. As our community has expanded, the impacts to our roads, traffic signals and sidewalks has increased. Meanwhile, the City’s original storm drainpipes installed more than 50 years ago are beginning to fail, causing sinkholes, flooding, and landslides that damage streets and private property. These combined pressures are already impacting daily commutes, neighborhood safety, and infrastructure reliability. Targeted investments are needed to improve infrastructure, and repair aging storm drain systems to protect our roadways and residents.
Many of our community facilities and fire stations were built more than 50 years ago and have never been modernized. They don’t meet current building or safety codes and are in need of repair for leaky roofs, outdated electrical and plumbing, and structural issues. It’s time to make essential repairs and improvements so these facilities can continue to serve our community well for decades to come.
While our population has grown significantly, we have added just one fire station since 1964. To keep pace with growth and protect our community, the City needs a new fire station and upgraded community facilities to improve emergency response and better serve residents’ needs.
How is the City currently addressing its infrastructure concerns?
Shortly after the August 13, 2025, City Council meeting, staff in consultation with the Mayor formed the Santee Infrastructure Advisory Group comprised of residents, local business owners, local leaders, and a representative from Santee Chamber of Commerce. The intent of the working group is to provide an opportunity to educate participants about the City’s budget, operations, infrastructure needs, revenue sources, and funding necessary for infrastructure improvements.
What is the City doing to reduce traffic congestion?
The City has taken steps to improve traffic flow, including synchronizing traffic signals along major corridors like Mission Gorge Road.
What would a potential measure do to improve traffic flow?
If approved, the measure would provide local funding for additional local traffic improvements controlled by the City of Santee. This could include coordinating more traffic signals, including smart signal technology where feasible, and upgrading intersections and other traffic management systems. These improvements would help reduce congestion and move traffic more efficiently on local streets.
Is local funding needed?
Santee is considering an up-to-one cent sales tax measure on an upcoming ballot to provide local funding for general government use including important public services and infrastructure, including:
- Fix potholes and pave/maintain city streets
- Provide quick responses to 9-1-1 emergencies, including fire protection, paramedic services and a new fire station where needed
- Improve roads, intersections, sidewalks, and signals to improve traffic safety and increase efficiency.
- Keep streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds and public facilities safe, clean, and well-maintained
What types of fiscal accountability would a potential measure include?
Any local funding measure would include fiscal accountability requirements, including:
- All funds must stay in Santee, and no funds can be taken away by the State, the County or other agencies
- An independent citizens’ oversight committee and annual audits
- Essential purchases like groceries, prescription medicine, and diapers are exempt
Do visitors to Santee pay the local sales tax?
Yes, sales tax is paid by anyone who shops in Santee. Much of the money raised by the sales tax comes from people who visit or pass through Santee, but don’t live here. This measure will make sure they pay their fair share for the facilities and services they use while in our city.
How would a sales tax measure affect purchases?
The City is considering a sales tax increase of up to one cent. This would add up to an extra 10 cents to a $10 purchase of taxable goods.
Are groceries, medicine, feminine hygiene products, and other essentials exempt?
Yes. By law, everyday essential purchases like groceries, diapers, and prescription medicine are exempt from the sales tax, which helps ensure the cost is not a burden to those on fixed or limited incomes.
Have local voters considered a local sales tax measure before?
An independent citizens’ group tried unsuccessfully to pass a sales tax measure in November 2024. This year, the City is exploring a measure to provide local funding for essential public services and infrastructure: fixing potholes, improving roads and intersections, and keeping streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, and public facilities safe, clean, and well maintained, in addition to fire protection and emergency response services.
Where is the tax collected?
The sales tax is only for the City of Santee. Visitors, tourists and City residents would pay the tax and provide locally controlled revenue to deliver local programs and services that improve our roads, provide fire protection and emergency response and maintain safe, clean parks.
How can I learn more?
We welcome your feedback and questions. For more information or to provide feedback, please send an email to General_Info@CityofSanteeCA.gov
City Operating Budget
Each fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) the City of Santee adopts a new operating budget, this operating budget sets the funding levels for each department and service offered by the City of Santee. Budget discussions typically happen during City Council meetings in the month of June.
Capital Improvement Plan
The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is a five-year planning tool that assists the City Council with setting priorities, identifies unfunded needs, helps staff in managing workloads, project schedules and budgets, and establishes the appropriated CIP budget for the first two fiscal years. Funding is allocated to projects based on existing available funds and projected revenues. In the 2026 - 2030 CIP staff identified 77 projects totaling $460.6 million over the next five years for infrastructure and other capital needs and of that $322.9 million is unfunded.
Need for Additional Fire Stations
On October 22, 2025, the Santee Fire Department provided the Santee City Council with an update on the Community Risk Assessment and Long Range Master Plan. The plan was originally authorized by the City Council on April 13, 2022, with initial findings presented on March 22, 2023. A prior progress update was delivered on February 27, 2024.
The October 22 update informed the City Council on progress made since the February 2024 update, including ongoing planning efforts for a potential fifth fire station to serve Northeast Santee.