Anaheim Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava has proposed discussions on introducing a new tax on tickets and parking at the city’s entertainment venues. The proposed tax aims to generate additional revenue for Anaheim’s general fund, which Rubalcava says needs new sources of income. Currently, the city’s budget heavily relies on a tax from hotel stays, driven by the influx of visitors to the Disneyland Resort and nearby attractions.
Rubalcava suggested that the City Council consider placing an entertainment tax initiative on the November 2026 ballot, allowing residents to decide on the matter. She has been collaborating with the city manager and attorney to develop a plan, which she hopes will be ready for debate at the City Council meeting on September 23.
Anaheim has previously considered similar taxes. In 2022, the council rejected a proposal for a 2% gate tax on major attractions like Disneyland and Angel Stadium, which was projected to generate $55 million to $80 million annually. Additionally, a 30-year ban on gate taxes, extended in 2015, was revoked in 2018 at Disney’s request.
Rubalcava, who was elected to the City Council in 2022 and survived a recall election in 2024, has received support from a political action committee backed by Disney. The city is also expected to free up over $120 million annually in its budget starting in 2027, once it pays off bonds from the 1990s expansion of the resort area.
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