Cupertino council votes 3‑2 to oppose Santa Clara County Measure A sales tax

The Cupertino City Council voted 3‑2 on Oct. 13 to oppose Santa Clara County’s Measure A, a proposed 0.625% countywide sales tax on the November ballot intended to shore up funding for the county hospital system. The council also authorized the mayor to send an amended opposition letter raising concerns about the tax’s regressivity, accountability, special‑election timing and impacts on cities’ ability to pursue local revenue measures.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment. Health‑care workers and nonprofits urged the council not to oppose the measure. Michael Elliott, executive director of Valley Health Foundation, told the council: “This is a crisis that is caused entirely by unprecedented and historic cuts to federal health care programs,” and called Measure A a “temporary solution to prevent hospital closure in Santa Clara County.” Registered nurses and physicians from county hospitals testified that emergency‑department and trauma capacity would be threatened without additional revenues.

Several local residents and advocates urged a different course. Public commenters including Sam Rao urged the council to prioritize strictly local matters and, separately,…