Would you pay $500?
Your Money, No Plan
The City has already spent $4.27 Million on a Vision Plan that remains entirely unfunded. Most of what they've spent has come from money earmarked for repaving our streets.
With no official projections provided to the public, the community is left to guess at the true long-term costs.
We estimate the price tag will land around $46 million, or $522 per person. See how we got there below.
Our Pothole Money
In 2016, Ventura voters approved a sales tax increase, Measure O, to fix aging infrastructure , like paving and potholes, and improve public safety.
Instead, the City has already redirected $3.25 Million of these funds for Main Street Moves.(1)
Now, the City is asking for an additional 1% sales tax. Ventura residents have received a survey from City Manager Bill Ayub, which highlights priorities like safety and streets. It carefully never mentions why they need more money for repaving our streets. Nor does it mention that the City can use this money for downtown's Main Street Moves.
A Yes vote for the proposed sales tax could become a Yes vote to pay for the closure, even though the City markets it otherwise.
(1) $2 million to purchase traffic barricades (bollards), with $750,000 more planned for 2027.Source: City Staff Report, March 2026, Page 17.
$539,769.67 spent to date as of May 6, 2026, per Greg Morley, City of Ventura's CFO. 805.654.7823; gmorley@cityofventura.ca.gov
Estimated Taxpayer Cost:
$522 Each
The City has spent nearly $5 million on their plan, yet they still haven't given the public an estimated total cost. So here's an estimate, using real world data.
1. Santa Barbara's projected renovation Cost is $6 - $8 Million per block. An average of $7 Million per block is used. Source: Santa Barbara's 2026 Draft State Master Plan, Page 135.
2. The closure area is five blocks closed on Main Street, and one on California Street.
3. If the City is able to replicate Santa Barbara's State Street real-world renovation costs, it would be $7 Million times 6 blocks = $42 Million
4. As of May 2026, $4,270.559 has been allocated or spent on the closure. Amounts are $1,066,559 through June 2025; $1,204,000 2026 budget; $2,000,000 Bollards. Source: City of Ventura Staff Report, Page 5.
5. $46 Million divided 88,000 - the number of adults in the city of Ventura. Source: US Census.