Measure S, an increase of ½ percent to the transactions and use tax, was approved by 63% of Downey voters in November 2016 and went into effect on April 1, 2017.

Measure S is expected to generate approximately $9 million per year to protect and enhance the quality of services to the community.

The Measure expires in 20 years and cannot be renewed without voter approval.

 Ordinance No. 16-1362 - Transactions and Use Tax

Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee

Measure S requires the creation of an Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee be created in order to review the City's expenditure of revenues generated by Measure S, review annual audit reports related to the Measure, and make at least one written annual report to the City Council at a public meeting.

The Committee consists of five members appointed by the City Council from each of the five Council Districts. Appointed members include:

Cesar Ortiz – District 1

Beth Gendreau – District 2

Rebecca Reyes – District 3

Carrie Uva – District 4

Mario Guerra – District 5

Resolution No. 16-7657 -  Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee

The Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee held their first quarterly meeting on April 11, 2018.

View meeting agendas and minutes of the Oversight Committee

Annual Independent Auditor's Report 

As part of the City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), independent auditors review all City Funds, including Measure S.  The ACFR, independent auditor's review, is conducted annually. In addition to no material findings , the ACFR has received the Excellence in Financial Reporting award from the Government Financial Officers Association. To view the annual ACFR reports, please click here. 

Board's Annual Reports

• 2018 Report (April 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018)
  
  
• 2020 Report 
  (Covering two periods: FY July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019 and FY July 1, 2019-June 30,2020)
  
  
• 2024 Report
  (Covering four periods FY July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021, FY July 1, 2021 - June 2022 , FY July 1, 2022-June 2023, and FY July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024)  

Measure S - Public Facilities - Neighborhood Capital Improvement Program

Four Fire Station Improvement Projects $22.7M - Station modernization through completion of Improvement to the interior spaces of the station, and reconstruction of pavement. Fire Stations 1 and 3 were completed in FY 2020-21. Fire Stations 2 and 4 were completed in FY 2021-22.

Apollo Park $4.7M - Irrigation system replacement, turf renovation, synthetic field conversion, playground resurfacing, parking lot upgrades, ball field lighting, restroom renovation, and ADA improvements. Apollo Park was completed in FY 2019-20.

Dennis the Menace Park $2.3M - Soil stabilization and grading, irrigation replacement, turf renovation, parking lot upgrades, and ADA improvements. Dennis the Menace Park was completed in FY 2019-20.

Library Renovation $8M - Interior spaces reconfiguration, interior finishes replacement, books and data storage furniture, installation of energy efficient lighting, completion of ADA improvements, new doors and signage, as well as exterior painting of the building. Further, reconfiguration and enhancement of the area adjacent to the northwest of the Library through an attractive shade structure with a multi-color cover will provide added comfort for the patrons and create a more dramatic backdrop. The Downey Library was completed in FY 2020-21.

Golden Park $3M - Community building improvements, ADA Accessible path of travel to new amenities, five (5) new picnic shelters include two (2) 48’ HXE, one (1) 16’x24’ and two (2) 24x34, rubberized surfacing at play area, one (1) 12x20 storage shed and a site built trash enclosure, ADA improvements in the parking lot, basketball court improvements include new basketball court surfacing, new basketball backboards/nets, 8’ high chain link fence around basketball courts, baseball Field Improvements include 4’ chain link homerun fence, two (2) new bleachers at baseball fields, and a decomposed granite trail. Golden Park was completed in FY 2020-21.

Independence Park $1.8M - One (1) new detached restroom structure, four (4) restrooms (west of the northeast restroom building adjacent to the northern parking lot), removal of existing playground fall zone material and replace with rubberized surfacing, resurface eight (8) tennis courts, site built trash enclosure, and site furnishings (picnic tables, BBQs, benches, trash receptacles and drinking fountain). Independence Park was completed in FY 2019-20.

Discovery Sports Complex Park $2.6M– Synthetic field conversion and ball field lighting installation. Discovery Sports Complex was completed in FY 2020-21.

Wilderness Park $3.1M - A community building with restroom improvements, a new restroom building, ADA Improvements in the parking lot and accessible path of travel to new amenities, three (3) new picnic shelters include (1) 48’ Hexagon (HXE), (2) 24’x34, rubberized surfacing at the play area, site built trash enclosure, and site furnishing (picnic tables, BBQs, benches, trash receptacles, and drinking fountain). Wilderness Park improvements were completed in FY 19-20, however, the City is currently renovating the ponds at Wilderness Park through the use of Rivers and Mountains Conservancy grant funds. Wilderness Park was completed in FY 2020-21.

Furman Park $5.4M - Irrigation system replacement, turf renovation, parking lot upgrades, ball field lighting, bleachers/back stops, play fields, new picnic shelters, a tennis court upgrade, and community buildings upgrades. Furman Park was completed in FY 2020-21.

Downey Theatre Plaza and Courtyard $2.9M– Installation of a circular fountain displaying a prominent sculpture, an information kiosk, seating/ conversation areas, art displays as well as an exterior elevator accessing the Theatre’s second floor. Theatre Plaza was completed in FY 2021-22.

Police Station $2.6M – Police Station Modernization included new locker room, flooring, furniture, paint, and restrooms. Modernization improvements were completed in FY 2020-21.

Other Improvements $1.8M - In addition to the projects listed above, Measure S was used to fund the Rio Hondo Event Center Improvements, which concluded in FY 19-20. Additionally, monies were used to improve the Public Works Yard, Downtown Parking Structure and other ancillary projects. These were completed in FY 2020-21 and FY 2023-24.

The success of Measure S is dependent on a holistic approach, as all department staff members in the organization are collaboratively working to promote public awareness, support careful planning, accurate accounting, transparent reporting, and the execution of relocation of temporary worksites and personnel redeployment as the City strives to provide continuity of public services during this active time of construction.