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Contra Costa supervisors direct staff to prepare a June ballot sales-tax measure to shore up health and social services
Summary
After presentations from county health officials and union partners, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to prepare a draft ordinance for a temporary countywide sales tax (0.50% or 0.625%) to help backfill projected federal and state funding cuts to Medi‑Cal and child-care programs, with a separate citizen oversight committee proposed.
Supervisor John Gioia on Tuesday urged the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to act now to blunt an anticipated drop in federal and state funding for health and social services, proposing a temporary countywide sales tax on the June 2026 ballot.
Gioia described two possible rates — a one-half cent (0.50%) or five‑eighths cent (0.625%) measure — and said staff and labor polling showed the higher rate would raise more than $150 million a year and was viable with voters. “We need to be prepared,” Gioia said, arguing the funds would mitigate immediate service disruptions and buy time for state and federal policy changes.
County and hospital leaders told the board that changes in federal rules and potential cuts could shrink program revenues substantially. Dr. [A. Colfax], Contra Costa County health official, said estimates suggested the county health system could face a multiyear shortfall in the hundreds of millions without local backfill and that reductions in coverage would raise demand on emergency and clinical services. David Colverson, CEO of Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, said the hospital network treats thousands of outpatient visits daily and would face pressure if more residents lost coverage.
Labor leaders supported the proposed measure. Quintin Silke of IFPTE Local 21 and Trish Suzuki Blintstra of Teamsters Local 856 urged the board to back the 0.625% option, saying polling showed majority support and stressing the measure would protect services county residents rely on.
Opponents and several public commenters urged caution. Mark Joffe of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association cited alternative revenue proposals and warned of increased sales-tax burdens in parts of the county. Other speakers called the tax regressive and asked the board to weigh state-level solutions first.
Supervisor Candace Anderson, while reluctant about sales taxes generally, said the circumstances were unusual and she would support a limited five‑year measure with a clear sunset. Several supervisors said the ordinance should include an independent oversight committee to review expenditures and provide public transparency.
The board directed the county administrator, county counsel and legislative advocates to pursue enabling state legislation to lift the sales-tax cap so the county could levy a 0.625% tax if chosen, and to return with a draft ordinance and ballot language for the board to consider. The motion was made by Supervisor John Gioia and seconded by Chair Diane Burgess. Staff indicated a draft ordinance would be brought back for formal action in February with a potential ballot filing deadline in March.
What happens next: staff will prepare the ordinance language and work with state legislators on the cap increase; if the board later places the question on the June ballot and voters approve it, collections would begin after the statutory levy start date (several months after certification).
