This City of Visalia has seen steady growth of sales tax revenues from 1983 to 2011 from- around $5 million back in 1983 and now, nearing $50 million. Information is from the latest financial report presented to the city council.
Visalia sales tax revenue has grown from around $17 million in 2012 to $39 million in 2021 and in the latest report , it is $48.6 million in fiscal year 2025. Chart below shows how this key revenue source grew.
The city’s general fund is largely dependent on both sales tax and property tax revenue.
The city’s property tax revenue has grown by meteoric levels as well from $22.3 million in 2010 to $27.9 million in 2021 and $37 million in the latest financial report for fiscal year 2025.
Besides these two key funds, the city’s hotel bed tax revenue (transient property tax) is now over $5 million annually, almost double what it was back in 2020.
The report notes that fiscal year 2024-25 had growth in Visalia’s General Fund major revenue categories of Sales Tax, Property Tax, and Transient Occupancy Tax as of June 30, 2025.
Fiscal year 2024-25 ended the year with an overall increase of $3.0 million in the total economic-sensitive revenue category for the General Fund – Economic Sensitive Revenues. Most of this increase is from Property Tax which had a $2.7 million increase over the prior year.
Sales Tax for the year rebounded from last year’s contraction, ending fiscal year 2024-25 with a 2.2% increase. The addition of new businesses throughout the City and within our growing Industrial Park help contribute to the growth. The main areas of the increase in Sales Tax for Visalia were General Retail (department stores, apparel stores, furniture/appliance stores) which grew 2.30%, Food Products (restaurants, food markets, liquor stores) which grew 3.75%, and Transportation (new and used auto sales, service stations) which had a slight increase of .5%. Property Tax continued its trend increasing 7.9% as growth in property values remained strong; new development occurred; and the housing market continued to offer premium price levels. Travel stays to the area continued to grow for the year as we saw an increase of 4.4% in Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue.
Business license revenue decreased 3.8% when compared to last year as the implementation of a new online business license billing and receipt system resulted in adjustments that occurred due to the transition of systems.
More than 500 new businesses
But new business startups were seen.Visalia has 13,990 licensed businesses operating in the City, a net increase of 517 as compared to last year.These businesses include private manufacturing, technology research, retail and service businesses, educational services, healthcare and social assistance, consulting, arts and entertainment, hospitality services, along with non-profit institutions.
Construction activity in the City increased 5.4% (based on the number of all permits issued) in fiscal year
2024-25. The total valuation for all permits issued was $410 million, a 15% decrease from the prior year
as the City added .7 million square feet of new commercial property and 1.6 million square feet of space
overall. Issued single-family dwelling permits for fiscal year 2024-25 had a decrease of 7% when compared to the prior year.The construction value for 434 new single-family dwelling permits came in at $150 million, which was down 4% from the prior year valuation level.
For the calendar year however, the number of new home permits more than doubled numbering 562 in 2025 compared to 270 in 2024.
Total Revenue to the city in the last fiscal year came almost $11 million more than has been budgeted continuing the city’s conservative budgeting enjoying an upside surprise
Mooney Boulevard
Sequoia Mall is currently undergoing complete refurbishment. The next phases will include a conversion
of the former Bed Bath and Beyond building into smaller suites. This follows completion of a new Sephora,
Osh Kosh, Carter’s, and Sketchers which are all located near Hobby Lobby.
Local favorite Orange Works is looking to open a new Mooney Boulevard restaurant in the former Crown
Dry Cleaners located between Tulare Avenue and Walnut Avenue. The restaurant will also feature a drivethru.
Downtown
Tazzah, Coffee & Tea will open in the original Tulare Co. Farm Bureau historic building located at 112 East
Oak Avenue.
Owners of Sushi Kuu are going to be opening a new restaurant, Ramen Kuu, at 117 West Main Street in
the former Metropolis Body Spa building.
Moving forward this year is the Bridging Horizons Play Park project, Visalia’s first fully inclusive playground
and park. The project is located just east of Imagine U Children’s Museum.
North Visalia
Development at Orchard Walk West located at Dinuba Boulevard and Riggin Avenue continues to
progress. A new phase has been completed and includes Burlington Coat Factory, Ulta Beauty, and Five
Below which are all now open.
Raising Cane’s is now open in the Orchard Walk West center.
Construction of a new Costco at the corner of North Shirk Street and Riggin Avenue has begun. The
159,352 square foot Costco will also offer a car wash and fuel facility. Costco intends to be open early
2026.
Additional Visalia Developments
A second Vallarta Supermarket is currently under construction near Lovers Lane and Noble Avenue. The
53,000 square foot space will anchor additional spaces including a 26,000 square foot space and several
other retail and food spaces.
Construction of a new Towneplace Suites by Marriott is nearing completion. It is located near the Holiday
Inn Express in the Adventure Park area.
A new 2,800 square foot drive-thru restaurant is being proposed at the southeast corner of Stonebrook
Street and Caldwell Avenue across from The Human Bean.
The $11.4 million project will widen Riggin Avenue from Kelsey Street to Shirk Street converting
it from an undivided two-lane road to a four-lane road with median. This will improve traffic
mobility for the industrial park and surrounding businesses.