Contra Costa supervisors delay sales tax measure as they wait on state legislators

A proposed ballot measure for a half-cent sales tax to raise an estimated $81 million a year for Contra Costa County programs — mostly social services — is still waiting for approval of a key bill in the state Legislature.

At a special meeting Friday afternoon, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to allow one more week, from Aug. 24 to Aug. 31, for approval of Senate Bill 1349. That approval has taken longer than expected for several reasons, but a consultant told the supervisors on Friday that it appears the bill, authored by state Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, will become law sometime this week.