Orange Turns to Voters on Charter City Proposal
Voters in the City of Orange will get a say later this November on whether the city becomes a charter – a move some city council members say will mean greater local control over planning and increased revenue.
It’s the second city measure to hit the ballot in Orange this November after council members decided to ask city voters if they want to increase the local sales tax by 1% in an effort to curb a structural budget deficit that’s led to a host of spending cuts.
Councilmember Kathy Tavoularis, who spearheaded the measure, said the switch to a charter city could lead to a reduced budget deficit.
“We were told one day, ‘Guess what? You’re $30 million in debt,’ and that started at the beginning of all of our terms. And it’s a cold slap in the face,” Tavoularis said at the July 13 meeting.
https://voiceofoc.org/2026/07/orange-turns-to-voters-on-charter-city-proposal/