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Bay Area Lawmakers Propose Regional Sales Tax to Avert Transit Funding Crisis

SB63 targets a November 2026 ballot measure to stabilize funding for BART and Muni, which face severe deficits and potential service cuts.

Politicians are pitching a plan to create a tax to save BART from a fiscal hardship.
“If we do nothing, we will see catastrophic service cuts,” state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said about BART’s financial future.
People exit a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train at Powell Street Bart Station on Market Street in San Francisco on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
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Overview

  • State Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguín introduced SB63, a bill to authorize a regional sales tax measure across up to five counties to address transit funding shortfalls.
  • BART and Muni project annual deficits exceeding $350 million and $300 million, respectively, starting in mid-2026, risking severe service reductions and station closures.
  • The proposed tax measure could raise $560 million annually if four counties participate, though it would not fully eliminate projected deficits.
  • The bill incorporates measures to improve transit reliability, integrate fares, and require large employers to subsidize transit passes for workers.
  • San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie plans a separate ballot measure in 2026 to secure additional funding specifically for Muni.