Pomona, CA — As Pomona voters prepare to cast their ballots in the June 2, 2026, Primary Election, Measure Z has become one of the city’s most debated local issues. At the center of the discussion is a question of how Pomona should fund youth programs without jeopardizing other city services.
Measure Z, titled the “Pomona Kids First Funding Amendment,” asks voters whether the city should amend Measure Y, the 2024 voter-approved initiative that created the Pomona Children and Youth Fund. Measure Y requires Pomona to dedicate an increasing share of its unrestricted General Fund revenues to youth programs, eventually reaching 10% by Fiscal Year 2030–31. City staff has warned that the current structure could deplete General Fund reserves and cause a severe budget deficit within three years.
Measure Z would not create a new tax. Instead, it would change the funding source for the youth fund to 10% of Pomona’s Bradley-Burns local sales and use tax revenue, rather than a percentage of the city’s broader General Fund.
Supporters argue the change would preserve youth funding while protecting essential services such as police, fire, public works and community services. The city’s own Measure Z presentation states that the amendment is intended to address Measure Y’s fiscal impacts while keeping the city out of deficit budgets in future years.
Critics, however, say Measure Z raises transparency concerns and does not fully resolve questions about oversight, spending priorities and long-term financial planning. In a recent email exchange among Pomona residents and civic stakeholders, concerns were raised over whether Measure Z was rushed, whether the public fully understands the measure, and whether public safety departments would directly benefit from the change.
One point of confusion has centered on police and fire funding. Measure Z does not dedicate money directly to public safety. However, supporters argue that by reducing the amount automatically pulled from the General Fund for the youth fund, more unrestricted dollars would remain available for City Council to budget toward services such as police, fire, infrastructure or reserves. Opponents counter that this is not a guarantee, but a budgetary possibility.
Measure Y also created a 15-member Children and Youth Accountability Board, with eight members required to be between the ages of 15 and 24. City staff reports confirm that structure, while some residents have questioned whether the measure provides enough detail about appointment procedures and verification requirements.
The broader debate reflects a tension familiar to many cities: how to invest in young people while maintaining core city operations. Pomona officials say Measure Z is a corrective amendment that keeps the promise of Measure Y while making it financially sustainable. Some residents say voters deserve clearer answers before approving another charter amendment.
A Yes vote supports changing the youth fund’s source to 10% of the city’s local sales and use tax revenue. A No vote keeps Measure Y’s current funding structure in place, continuing the phased allocation from the city’s unrestricted General Fund.
Election Day is June 2, 2026. Vote-by-mail ballots began arriving April 30, vote centers open in phases beginning May 23, and all vote centers open May 30.
