San Jose council backs Santa Clara County Measure A after heated debate

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose City Council voted to endorse Santa Clara County Measure A on Oct. 21, approving a resolution of support by a 9–1 vote, with Vice Mayor Pam Foley absent. Councilmember Susan Casey cast the lone no vote.

Supporters said the temporary sales tax is needed to prevent immediate hospital and service cuts after recent federal changes to Medicaid funding. “Measure A represents the next step in protecting the hard won safety net gains,” Councilmember Peter Ortiz told colleagues, saying the measure helps protect services ‘‘from birth onward’’ for East San Jose residents who rely on the county safety net.

The vote follows weeks of public debate and a lengthy council discussion at Tuesday’s meeting. Backers, including healthcare providers and some council members, argued Measure A would provide a bridge while county leaders pursue longer-term structural reforms and efficiency measures. Opponents, led in the council discussion by Councilmember Casey, criticized the measure as a “blank check” because it is a general sales tax without legally binding, line-item guarantees or anti-supplanting language.

“Measure A is sold as a hospital rescue, but the vote is for a general sales tax,” Councilmember Casey said during the debate, arguing the county had not presented a multi‑year, enforceable plan tying revenues to specific deliverables. Casey added the county’s hospital acquisitions and structural deficits predated the recent federal funding changes and said fiscal governance and performance safeguards were missing from the measure.

Supporters said federal changes known as HR 1 created an abrupt and large shortfall that could force service reductions unless local revenues plugged the gap as an interim step. Councilmember Candelis, who moved the city’s resolution of support, described the endorsement as a temporary measure meant to buy time to reform the county system. The motion passed with a recorded tally of yes 9, no 1, absent 1.

What the council endorsed: a city resolution urging voter support for Santa Clara County Measure A, a countywide temporary sales tax measure that county leaders say is necessary to stabilize operations and preserve hospital and behavioral health services in the face of federal funding reductions.

What happens next: The council’s action is a local endorsement; the measure itself will be placed before county voters. County supervisors and health system leaders will continue to develop implementation, oversight and accountability details as they pursue voter approval.

Why it matters: The measure directly affects county hospitals and behavioral-health services that serve San Jose residents, including trauma, maternity and emergency care. If voters reject Measure A and the county cannot fill the federal funding gap, county leaders have warned of service reductions and closures that would affect residents across Santa Clara County.

Council members on both sides of the issue said they expect the county to pursue operational reforms in parallel with the ballot campaign. Councilmember Candelis urged the county to show measurable reforms and guardrails tied to any new revenue; Casey said the council should withhold support until legally binding anti‑supplanting and performance safeguards were written into the measure’s implementation plan.

The council’s vote was 9–1 in favor of a resolution supporting Measure A, with Councilmember Casey voting no and Vice Mayor Foley absent. The county will continue to develop its ballot materials and outreach plan ahead of the election.