Contra Costa supervisors will appoint committee to oversee half-cent tax uses

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors decided Tuesday to allow 95 percent of future revenue from a sales tax passed by voters in November to fall under the purview of a 17-person community advisory committee, instead of the 50 percent proposed by one supervisor.

The still-to-be-named committee would only offer recommendations to the board, but the jump in scope was still significant, considering Measure X, the countywide half-cent increase in sales tax, is expected to generate at least $81 million annually over 20 years, beginning April 1.