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Santa Clara County Voters Pass Measure A, a 0.625% Sales Tax

The general tax takes effect April 1, 2026 for five years to help blunt federal Medi‑Cal cuts.

Overview

  • With all precinct ballots reported, unofficial results show 200,430 yes to 152,850 no, or about 57% approval, according to the county Registrar.
  • Measure A adds five‑eighths of a cent to the sales tax, is projected to generate roughly $330 million per year, and is scheduled to expire in April 2031.
  • Revenue will flow to the county’s general fund with no legal earmark for hospitals, and supporters acknowledge it will not fully replace lost federal funding.
  • The countywide rate will move to about 9.75%, reaching 10.0% in San José and Milpitas and 10.5% in Campbell; a $30,000 car would incur $187.50 more in tax and a $200 purchase $1.25 more.
  • Backers included Rep. Ro Khanna, San José Mayor Matt Mahan, Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens and the Board of Supervisors, while opponents criticized the tax’s regressivity and county messaging; a prior lawsuit kept the measure on the ballot but required removing the president’s name from its language, and complaints about county mailers and officials campaigning in uniform were filed.