Proposed Tax Increase Could Fund Health Care, Transit Projects
Santa Clara County supervisors on Tuesday will vote on whether to include a measure to increase the county sales tax rate by one half-cent, the San Jose Mercury News reports. The proposed ballot language, which was released Thursday, does not state specifically how the proceeds would be used, freeing supervisors to fund trauma and emergency services, health insurance expansion efforts for children and transportation projects.
A general tax that does not explicitly state how it will be used requires that a simple majority vote in favor of it to take effect (Witt, San Jose Mercury News, 2/24). A ballot measure that specifically states how proceeds from the tax would be spent would require a two-thirds majority vote (California Healthline, 2/6).
The proposed ballot measure would increase the county sales tax rate to 8.75%, tying Santa Clara County with Alameda County for the highest sales tax rate in the state (San Jose Mercury News, 2/24).