Board approves sending Caltrain sales-tax measure to voters, ties approval to governance steps

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on July 28 to submit a 1/8-cent sales tax measure to the November 2020 ballot to fund Caltrain, while requiring a series of governance steps and temporary escrow provisions intended to protect San Francisco’s financial and service interests.

Supporters including Supervisors Matt Haney, Aaron Peskin and Board member (and Caltrain JPB member) Aaron Peskin and Supervisor Ahsha Safaí framed the measure as an urgent, regional funding source to stabilize Caltrain’s operations and capital needs amid plunging ridership from the COVID-19 pandemic and to support longer-term plans for electrification and more frequent service.

The resolution approved by the board conditions initial disbursement of new tax revenue on a set of short-term steps: revenues would be deposited into a special escrow account and used first to offset member operating contributions and Caltrain fare losses if additional federal relief is not available; the Joint Powers Board (JPB) would be required to appoint independent special counsel and an independent auditor separate from SamTrans; and the measure sets deadlines for…