Contra Costa seeks half-cent sales tax to pay for social services

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will proceed with pursuing a half-cent, 20-year sales tax measure for November’s general election ballot, though it could be derailed if a bill now languishing in Sacramento isn’t passed by the end of July.

The tax would raise an estimated $81 million a year to pay for county services including Health and Emergency Services, Safety Net Services, Housing and Early Childhood Services.