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3d ago

California Legislature Sends Bay Area Transit Tax Authorization to Newsom

Newsom faces an Oct. 12 decision on SB 63 that would authorize a 2026 regional transit tax.

Muni and other Bay Area public transit agencies would receive long-term funding under a regional measure authorized by a bill that passed the California Legislature. 
A bill that passed the California Legislature would authorize a regional measure to provide long-term funding for BART and other Bay Area public transit agencies.
AC Transit could be forced to make major cuts without sustainable long-term financial support, say the authors of a bill to put a funding measure on the November 2026 ballot.
California state Sen. Jesse Arreguin, D-Berkeley, was co-author of a bill to authorize a regional ballot measure to provide long-term funding for Bay Area transit agencies. 

Overview

  • SB 63 would let Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara place a regional sales tax on the November 2026 ballot to fund transit for 14 years.
  • The tax would default to 0.5% across the region, with San Francisco allowed to set a 1% rate to bolster Muni.
  • The measure ties access to revenues to agencies demonstrating improved financial efficiency and cost controls.
  • Agencies report large operating gaps as emergency aid wanes, with SFMTA projecting roughly $307–$322 million starting in 2026 and BART $350–$400 million annually by 2027.
  • Short-term relief remains unresolved, with a previously discussed $750 million state bridge loan not finalized as officials warn of severe service reductions without new funding.