The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider whether to place a new sales tax increase on the ballot for the upcoming June primary election.
The agenda report for Tuesday’s meeting says the board will consider a sales tax of 0.5% or 0.625% lasting five years “to protect local services impacted by the severe federal cuts” passed by Congress last year.
Contra Costa County officials said their proposed tax is similar to one passed in November in Santa Clara County as Measure A. The Contra Costa County tax, if approved by a majority of voters, would be estimated to annually generate $122 million as a 0.5% sales tax or $151 million as a 0.625% sales tax.
The county would need approval by the state Legislature to raise a sales tax cap — state law caps the total combined tax rate in a county at 2% unless granted exceptions by the Legislature — and Contra Costa officials said state Sen. Jesse Arreguin, D-Berkeley, has indicated he would add the county to existing legislation that could be passed prior to the June 3 election.
The agenda document for Tuesday’s meeting says Contra Costa County could see nearly 100,000 residents lose health insurance coverage, among other impacts from H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was passed by the Republican Congress last year and is implementing cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs.
Tuesday’s meeting is set for 9 a.m. at the county Administration Building at 1025 Escobar St. in Martinez. The meeting can also be accessed via Zoom. Related meeting and agenda documents can be found on the county’s website.