Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
2h ago

Santa Clara County Voters Approve Five-Year Sales Tax Increase to Support Safety-Net Health Care

The five-eighths-cent general tax is projected to raise about $330 million a year to help offset Medi-Cal funding cuts tied to the federal One Big Beautiful Bill.

Image
Red, white and blue sign with an arrow indicating where to go to cast or leave a ballot.
Santa Clara County officials say the money generated by Measure A, if it passes, will be used to offset the federal funds that will be stripped from the county hospital system because of Republican-led changes to Medicaid.
Image

Overview

  • Final election night updates reported the measure passing with about 57% support, clearing the simple-majority threshold required for a general tax.
  • Measure A adds 0.625 percentage points to the county sales tax starting April 1, 2026, and it is set to sunset in April 2031 unless extended.
  • County leaders say the revenue will help keep four public hospitals and essential services like emergency care and mental health treatment operating despite federal cuts.
  • The money will flow into the county’s general fund rather than being legally earmarked for hospitals, a design critics argue reduces oversight and allows diversion to other priorities.
  • The Yes campaign vastly outfunded opponents, reporting more than $2.6 million raised including $525,000 from the Valley Health Foundation, and it drew late endorsements from public safety unions and San José Mayor Matt Mahan.