Santee Events

09/09/2026

Why Keeping Our Local Dollars Local Matters for Our Community 🏡📍
Ever wonder where your sales tax dollars actually go when you shop? It’s not as straightforward as you’d think, and it’s a big reason why cities like ours face tough budget decisions.
Here is a quick breakdown of how state tax rules work—and why local measures make a huge difference:
📦 The "Point of Sale" Problem (Bradley-Burns State Tax)
Under California’s standard 1% base sales tax (the Bradley-Burns tax), the money goes to where an item is fulfilled or sold, NOT where it’s delivered.
When you buy something online, that 1% often gets sent straight to the city where the big warehouse or fulfillment center lives—not our hometown.
Suburban and residential communities generate the buying power, but other cities get to keep the tax revenue to fix their roads and fund their services.
🏡 The Local District Tax Solution
A local 1% district tax works completely differently:
It stays local: It uses "destination-based" rules. When you order online and it’s delivered to your front door, that tax money stays right here in our town.
Protected locally: By law, these local funds cannot be taken away by the state or siphoned off to mega-warehouse hubs.
Funds our priorities: It keeps control in local hands to fund our own neighborhood roads, public safety, local parks, and emergency services.
Essential everyday purchases like groceries, prescription medications, and utilities remain exempt.
If we want our tax dollars working for our streets, our fire response, and our neighborhoods, keeping revenue local is the smartest way to build a stronger community! 💪
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIQ6Q6mHmIE
This video provides local news coverage explaining how the City Council evaluated the 1-cent sales tax proposal to address infrastructure needs and fund essential public services.

Santee city leaders are weighing whether to ask voters to approve a...

09/04/2026

I wanted to take a moment to address some of the comments and valid concerns I’ve been hearing regarding the proposed one-cent local sales tax increase.
Right now, inflation, gas prices, and the cost of groceries are weighing heavily on all of us. Nobody wants to pay more out of pocket, and it’s completely understandable why seeing any proposed tax increase causes concern.
I also want to address a quick misconception: Santee City Council members do not earn large salaries. They receive a small monthly stipend set by state guidelines (about $600 to $700 a month), so council pay is not where city funds are being spent or lost.
Getting the word out about this measure is deeply important to me because I care about the future of our city and everyone living in it. Over the years, as I've watched city staff dwindling away due to necessary budget cuts and layoffs, it has become clear that things aren't going to improve unless something changes. In reality, addressing our local revenue is something that should have been done years ago.
This measure is about retaining funds right here in Santee rather than letting them go to the state or county. More importantly, it’s about having the resources to help people in our community who are struggling. Over time, many programs designed to assist the underserved have been eliminated. With dedicated local revenue, we can work toward bringing back and strengthening vital support—such as:
First-Time Homebuyer Assistance: Helping young local families plant roots in our town.
Low-Income Family Resources: Providing a stronger safety net for neighbors going through hard times.
Senior Programs: Expanding services and activities for the seniors who built this community.
Essential Infrastructure & Safety: Maintaining our public parks, roads, and emergency response times.
Sharing this information isn't about telling anyone how to vote—it’s about making sure our community has the full picture of where our city stands, what we’ve lost to budget cuts, and how local funding directly impacts the quality of life for all of us.
Regardless of where you land on the ballot, open and honest conversations about our city's budget are vital. Thank you to everyone engaging in these discussions respectfully!

09/04/2026

Interstate 8 west hope everyone’s all right

09/03/2026

As a long-time Santee resident who loves our town, I think it’s time we have an honest conversation about our city’s future.
Lately, a lot of the pushback on this proposed 1¢ sales tax increase is coming from non-residents who come into Santee to make major purchases and leave. But as actual Santee residents, we’re the ones who live here every day—and we’re the ones seeing the reality on the ground.
Our city staff is already operating at bare-bones levels compared to the rest of East County. Programs are getting cut, positions are going unfilled, and our infrastructure and emergency services are stretched thin. We’ve enjoyed a high quality of life in Santee for decades, but we can't take it for granted anymore without a dedicated local funding source.
When out-of-town visitors shop here, they use our roads, our traffic signals, and our public safety resources. A local sales tax means visitors help pay for the infrastructure they use—and every single penny raised stays right here in Santee, legally protected from Sacramento.
Here is what everyone living in Santee needs to understand about how we got here and why this vote matters for our community's survival:

Santee Has Never Had a Local Sales Tax: [Santee local funding details](https://www.cityofsanteeca.gov/our-community/local-funding) show that since incorporation in 1980, the city has operated with 0% local sales tax. Out of the current 7.75% sales tax paid in Santee, the city only gets a single 1% share. The remaining 6.75% goes directly to the state, county, and regional agencies.
Now let that sink in!

Enjoy the charm of hometown living on any given day. The close bonds between people in Santee are palpable from the stands of the Sportsplex to the crowds of Summer Concerts. It is this tight-knit sense of community that sets the city apart, and you are more than welcome to join at every establishme...

09/01/2026

The main reason this measure is critical comes down to how Santee is structured compared to almost every other city in San Diego County:
Santee Has Never Had a Local Sales Tax: [Santee local funding details](https://www.cityofsanteeca.gov/our-community/local-funding) show that since incorporation in 1980, the city has operated with 0% local sales tax. Out of the current 7.75% sales tax paid in Santee, the city only gets a single 1% share. The remaining 6.75% goes directly to the state, county, and regional agencies.
Addressing a Massive Infrastructure Gap: Right now, Santee is facing an estimated $322 million infrastructure shortfall for long-term repairs. According to the City of Santee local funding portal, local storm drains are over 50 years old, roads and traffic signals need modernizing, and the city has only added one permanent fire station since 1964—when the population was roughly 11,000.
It Keeps Funds Local: A locally passed measure ensures 100% of the money raised stays in Santee. Sacramento cannot take it or redistribute it to other areas.
It ONLY Applies to Specific Sales: This is strictly a sales tax on general retail purchases—it is not a property tax, income tax, or tax on housing. Essential everyday items are fully exempt, including groceries, prescription medications, and diapers. Plus, anyone visiting or shopping in Santee from neighboring towns pays into it, helping fund local roads and emergency services alongside residents.
It’s about securing a reliable local funding stream so Santee isn't forced to defer vital public safety upgrades and neighborhood road repairs.

Enjoy the charm of hometown living on any given day. The close bonds between people in Santee are palpable from the stands of the Sportsplex to the crowds of Summer Concerts. It is this tight-knit sense of community that sets the city apart, and you are more than welcome to join at every establishme...

09/01/2026

While keeping Santee affordable is a priority we all share, we also need to look closely at the facts from the recent city council finance meetings. It has been over 15 years since a sales tax adjustment was seriously addressed, and a decade and a half of chipping away at our budget has left our city with a $322 million infrastructure shortfall.
Those "savings" are no longer invisible—the structural cutbacks are actively affecting the day-to-day safety of our families.
Let's look at the actual math regarding our neighbors and where our tax dollars go:
East County Comparisons: Santee currently sits at a 7.75% sales tax rate. Our neighbors in El Cajon are at 8.25% and La Mesa is at 8.50%. We literally have the lowest sales tax rate in East County.
The "Penny" Impact: A 1-cent increase would generate an estimated $14 million annually. Most importantly, by law, 100% of these funds stay strictly in Santee to repair local streets, fix potholes, and fully fund our emergency response services—including the paramedics and fire protection we desperately need.
Who Actually Pays? Essential purchases like groceries, prescription medications, and diapers are entirely exempt from sales tax. Furthermore, a massive portion of Santee's sales tax is actually paid by out-of-town visitors who shop at our major commercial centers or pass through our city. They use our roads and rely on our emergency infrastructure while here; a local sales tax ensures they pay their fair share to maintain them.
Our city leaders and public safety staff aren't asking blindly; they are warning us that the baseline services keeping this community secure are stretched to their limits. A 1-cent local tax adds just 10 cents to a $10 taxable purchase, but it collectively builds a safer, more sustainable Santee for all of us.
Let’s look at the long-term safety and well-being of our community, rather than just the immediate penny.

If Measure Y is approved by voters in November, that would make Santee the highest taxed city in the East County.

08/02/2026

Congratulations to Hilltop Deli on celebrating their 1-year anniversary! If you haven't dropped by yet, you can find them in the Gillespie Field Business Park at 1870 Cordell Ct #114, El Cajon. They are open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM serving up fresh sandwiches, salads, and charcuterie!

08/02/2026

Yesterday marked the 12th Annual Buddy’s Backpack Giveaway, and what an incredible day for our community! 🎒✨
Volunteers came together at Rio Seco School to host the drive-through giveaway, placing 750 fully stocked backpacks directly into the hands of local students to set them up for a successful school year.
Continuing the beautiful vision started by the late Buddy Rubaya in 2015, John Hossick, the dedicated committee, local business partners, and tireless volunteers continue to prove what makes Santee so special. Over the past 12 years, this labor of love has supported more than 14,000 East County kids and families!
Thank you to everyone who donated, packed bags, directed traffic, and brought a smile yesterday. Here’s to setting our local students up for greatness! 📸❤️

👇 Link to all the photos in the first comment! 👇

08/01/2026

12th Annual Buddy’s Backpack Drive! 🎒✨
Yesterday, community volunteers gathered at Meadowbrook Mobile Home Park to assemble 750 backpacks packed full of school supplies for local K–12 students!
Started back in 2015 and continuing in honor of founder Buddy Rubaya, this amazing community tradition ensures our East County kids start the school year confident and ready to learn. Huge thanks to John Hossick, the Santee Mobilehome Owners Action Committee (SMOAC), and all the wonderful volunteers who lent a hand! Special thank you to Jimmy's for wonderful breakfast burritos

📸 Photos from the giveaway are coming soon! Stay tuned to see all the smiles.

08/01/2026

Happening Now 8 to 10