Bell Council Places Public Safety Measure on June 2026 Ballot

Published on February 27, 2026

Bell, CA — The Bell City Council voted unanimous to place the City of Bell Public Safety and City Services Measure, on the June 2, 2026 statewide primary election ballot, giving local voters the opportunity to consider a measure intended to protect essential City services and maintain residents’ quality of life.

If approved by voters, the Measure would provide a locally controlled source of funding to help prevent cuts to core services, including public safety, emergency response, youth and senior programs, street maintenance, and efforts to address homelessness.’

“Without additional local funding, the City of Bell would be forced to make difficult decisions that could result in reductions to services our residents rely on every day,” said City Manager Michael L. Antwine II. “Placing the Bell Public Safety and City Services Measure on the ballot allows the community to decide whether to help protect these essential services to maintain its quality of life in Bell.”

The City Council’s action follows ongoing challenges facing cities across California as the State has increasingly imposed expensive regulations and requirements on local governments.

The County of Los Angeles recently placed its own measure on the ballot, which if passed could constitute a “grab” of remaining sales tax funding otherwise that would be available to the City of Bell.

“Studies show that the hours between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.—after school ends and before many parents return home—are a critical time for youth,” said Bell Police Chief Damian Velasco. “The City wishes to support children and teens with supervised activities during these critical hours.”

The Measure could help prevent further cuts to supervised afterschool programs at City parks, recreation centers, and the library, helping to keep youth safe and engaged.

Funds generated by the Measure are required by law to be spent locally in the City of Bell. The Measure includes strict accountability provisions, including independent residents’ oversight, public disclosure of all spending, and annual independent financial audits, to ensure funds are used as promised and for the benefit of Bell residents.

The funds from this Measure cannot be taken by Los Angeles County, the State of California, or the federal government, and would be dedicated to supporting City of Bell services that residents depend on.

Additional information about the Measure will be made available on the City of Bell’s website.