Contra Costa Voters Weigh Sales Tax Plan

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — In the upcoming June 2 election, Contra Costa County voters will vote on a proposed sales tax that would raise $150 million annually to backfill federal funding cuts to health care and other essential services.

If passed, Measure B will institute a five-eighth-cent sales tax in incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county for a period of five years, in addition to the half-cent sales tax already in effect until 2041 after the approval of Measure X in 2020.

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As a general tax, the measure requires majority approval to pass.

The Board of Supervisors voted to place Measure B on the ballot in March, saying that the tax was necessary to maintain health care, supplemental food assistance, and other essential county services in the face of recent federal cuts.

The county counsel's impartial analysis of the measure states that the tax revenue will be deposited in the county's general fund, and it could be used for "any other specific governmental purpose."

Measure B requires annual audits of the collection, management, and expenditure of tax revenue, as well as the appointment of a five-member fiscal oversight committee.

Following the supervisors' vote, two county voters -- including Sandra Kallander, the chair of the Libertarian Party of Contra Costa County -- filed a petition alleging that the language in the ballot question sought to influence voters in favor of the measure, constituting a violation of California's elections code.

The ballot question previously said it was to help Contra Costa County "address deep cuts in federal funding" and "support critical local services such as health care, supplemental food assistance, and other general county services."

Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Leonard Marquez agreed with the petitioners, directing the county to not describe the funding cuts as "deep" and/or county services as "critical."

In the argument for Measure B, Supervisor John Gioia and representatives of unions representing firefighters, nurses, and other workers point out that this tax is temporary and will be in place for five years.

Staff estimates suggest that the county health system will lose more than $300 million over the next five years because of the federal cuts, and the argument for the measure states that the tax is crucial to make up that deficit.

"It exempts food, housing, and medical care," the argument reads, "so most of the money from this tax will come from corporate or large luxury purchases."

In their argument against Measure B, representatives of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association and other county residents said that instead of imposing a tax to increase revenue, the county should be more judicious with its expenditures.

The argument states that Measure B is unnecessary given that Measure X, which was approved in 2020 to fund COVID-related services, is still in place, generating $120 million annually, significantly more than the $81 million projected in 2020.

"Instead of funding new pet projects and facilitating more compensation increases [for County staff] with Measure B, Contra Costa County should redirect Measure X's millions to counterbalance any healthcare deficits that actually develop," the argument reads.

By Tanay Gokhale, Bay City News
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