By Jorge Casuso
March 11, 2025 -- A recent sampling of Santa Monica voters indicates there is little support for floating a $460 million bond to help the City dig out of a fiscal hole.
Instead, the monthly Santa Monica Pulse poll of "civically minded" local residents conducted between March 9 and 11 found support for further tightening the City's fiscal belt.
The poll also found scant support for almost tripling the individual
contribution limit for Council candidate campaigns.
Asked if they supported a possible $460 million general obligation bond to help the cash-strapped City pay for unfunded capital projects, 87 percent said no, 7 percent yes and 6 percent weren't sure.
The response reflects a general hesitancy by the Council to float what is likely the largest bond in the City's history that would require the approval of two-thirds of local voters ("City Officials Considering Unprecedented Bond," March 6, 2025).
At a special budget workshop Saturday, several Councilmembers seemed skeptical the bond, which would generate revenue by taxing Santa Monica property owners, could pass; but the Council did not dismiss having the City conduct a poll to gauge community sentiment.
To address the ongoing budget crisis, some Council members suggested selling city properties, including the Fairview Branch Library ("Council Floats Bold Moves to Balance Budget," March 10, 2025).
When asked what the City's top priority should be to address the budget, two-thirds of the poll's respondents chose to "cut spending," while only 6 percent supported borrowing money or raising taxes.
Some 30 percent chose “something else,” with some writing in their own suggestions, which included cutting staff salaries and bolstering business and tourism by reducing homelessness and crime.
The poll also asked residents to weigh in on the Council's recent vote to explore hiking the individual contribution cap for candidate-controlled campaigns from $410 to $1,500 ("Council Moves to Amend Contribution Cap," February 27, 2025).
Some 55 percent of respondents opposed raising the limit, 21 percent supported raising it and 24 percent weren't sure.
The poll noted that proponents say the hike "would diminish the out-sized influence" of Independent Expenditure (IE) Committees, or PACs, while critics "see it as a way for Councilmembers to bolster their campaign accounts."
The Council vote comes after a record $1.5 million was spent in the November race for four Council seats, with more than $1.1 million raised by PACs, which have no limit on individual contributions ("Council Set to Hike Campaign Contribution Limits," February 24, 2025).
As with previous polls, the latest Santa Monica Pulse poll was sent via text to some 1,000 residents who "previously opted in to receive more information on education efforts surrounding crime and safety in their city." It had a 10 percent response rate.
The poll is conducted by Eyes on 11, a hotel union watchdog. Those who wish to be included in the next poll should email their name and cell phone number to SaMoPulse@gmail.com
