The City of Gardena is a vibrant city dedicated to providing quality services to residents. We are proud of the progress and investments made to our community over the years, including the soon-to-be-completed Community Aquatic & Senior Center and the future Mas Fukai Park improvement project.

Central to our City are community programs that touch the lives of our residents every day and maintaining public safety, including ensuring our Gardena Police Department is prepared and responsive when needed.

Increased Demand for Public Services
While we are proud to provide police and public services to our residents, the costs and demand for services continues to rise. For example, in 2024, the City responded to more than 36,000 emergency 911 calls while only having an average of seven police officers on patrol at any given time. There is an ongoing need for investment in public safety among other areas in our City.

Exploring Locally Controlled Funding
To address these issues and continue providing quality services to our residents, the City is considering all options, including potentially placing a quarter-cent sales tax on an upcoming ballot next year.

Funding from a potential measure could be used for general government purposes, including:

• Maintaining fire and paramedic response, ensuring quick emergency services
• Keeping public areas and parks safe, clean and graffiti free
• Supporting public safety programs to prevent crime and homelessness
• Funding youth and senior programs to improve neighborhood safety
• Maintaining street and fixing potholes

Essential Purchases Are Exempt
Groceries, prescription medicine, diapers, and certain other essential purchases are exempt from sales taxes. This helps ensure a potential sales tax measure is not a burden to those on fixed or limited incomes.

Fiscal Accountability and Local Control
Any potential measure would include strong accountability measures, including regular independent audits and public reporting of expenditures. All funds must stay local in Gardena for city needs, no funds can be taken away by Los Angeles County or the State.

Learn More
To learn more about Gardena’s plans to maintain local services please click the links below for more information. To ask questions please contact us at Gardena.Press@cityofgardena.org.

Additional Resources
Fact Sheet
Frequently Asked Questions
Community Priorities Survey