Pasadena took another step toward putting a sales tax hike proposal on the November ballot.

On Monday, the council directed staff to gather information and begin public outreach before bringing the idea back for a final vote. To make the November ballot, the City council would have to approve the measure no later than July 23.

The proposal would raise the city’s sales tax from 9.5 percent to 10.25 percent to prevent a budget deficit. Under current spending levels, the city is projected to have a $12 million shortfall by 2024.

Council members were cautiously supportive of moving forward Monday. They said the proposal could turn into a referendum on what level of service Pasadena residents would like to see from the city.

Councilwoman Margaret McAustin said that while she doesn’t want to raise the sales tax, “the numbers don’t lie.” The city has succeeded in managing the budget in a way that most residents probably haven’t felt the effects of the city’s money problems, but McAustin doesn’t believe maintaining the same level of service will be sustainable for much longer.

“I don’t like the idea of a sales tax increase, but I do think we have to take it to the voters,” she said. “It’s really up to the voters to determine the quality of life and the quality of service that they’re going to have in the city. So I reluctantly support it. I think we should go ahead and put it on the ballot.”

Councilman Andy Wilson agreed. The measure will force voters “to decide how they prioritize where their dollars go, in terms of taxes and the quality of services they want in their city,” he said. “So I think, sometimes it’s frustrating, but I think it’s the right thing to do.”

Ultimately, every council member voted to move forward except Councilman Steve Madison. He said the move would be too drastic to support it.

“I don’t know that there’s a sense of urgency in the community because we haven’t had to severely cut services,” he said. “Jacking the sales tax will be a big story if Pasadena does that, in my view, so that’s what I’m struggling with.”