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Monterey County, CA · Daily edition

Monterey County news for Friday, October 23, 2026

2 stories from Monterey County, in about three minutes.

Local Politics · King City, CA

King City Voters Weigh Sales Tax, School Reorganization Nov. 3

King City voters will decide on three local ballot measures on Tuesday, Nov. 3: Measure P would raise the city's sales tax from 1% to 1.5%, generating approximately $3.6 million annually for police, fire, and street services; Measure J would reorganize South Monterey County school districts into Greenfield Unified and King City Joint Unified districts effective in the 2028-29 school year; and Measure E would increase the county transient occupancy tax from 10.5% to 12.5% in unincorporated areas, estimated to generate $7.6 million annually. The California State Board of Education approved the school reorganization plans on July 8. All three measures require a majority vote for passage.

Source: King City Rustler Read the full story ↗

Public Safety

El Niño Winter Flood Risk: Northern California Coastal Areas Identified as Most Vulnerable

A UC Davis study identifies specific Northern California coastal areas most at risk of flooding this winter due to El Niño conditions, including Santa Cruz beaches, SFO and Oakland airports, Alviso in San Jose, Highway 37 from Vallejo to Novato, Stinson Beach, and Humboldt Bay. Sea levels are expected to be 2 to 3 feet higher than normal, and NOAA reported on Oct. 8 a 100% chance of strong El Niño conditions through March with an 83% probability it ranks as the strongest since 1950. The riskiest periods coincide with King Tides around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. Experts say residents can prepare with sandbags and storm drain cleaning, but long-term federal and state investment in billions is needed to address rising sea levels.

Source: The Vacaville Reporter Read the full story ↗