21 Jan Contra Costa Takes Steps Towards Putting Sales Tax on Ballot

(Screenshot captured by Samantha Kennedy / The CC Pulse)

By Samantha Kennedy

As much as $151 million could be generated annually to counteract federal budget cuts
after county supervisors took the first step toward putting a temporary sales tax on the June ballot.

Contra Costa supervisors on Tuesday voted to have staff bring back an ordinance that would allow them to place a five-year 0.625% sales tax on the June ballot. The county also has to get approval from state lawmakers, which it directed staff to do through a bill with state Sen. Jesse Arreguin.

“This is a layout of the problems we all know so well, the community’s expectation that we’re looking to minimize those impacts while continuing to change policies … and to take things into our own hands and step up,” said Supervisor John Gioia, who co-sponsored the item with Chair Diane Burgis.

The sales tax would allow the county to recoup some reductions to local social services made by the H.R. 1 bill, or the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Contra Costa Health is estimated to see $300 million in reductions through 2029 that would create a more than $100 million deficit, according to the county.

“It would not fix [the problem the cuts create], but it would mitigate it,” said Grant Colfax, director of Contra Costa Health. About one in four county residents use services through the system, he said.

H.R. 1 also makes changes to the requirements of recipients of CalFresh, the state version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which the county writes could additionally “increase food insecurity for thousands.”

But Marc Joffe, president of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, suggested that supervisors wait to see the outcome of the Billionaire Tax Act. The Billionaire Tax aims to generate $100 billion to offset the same amount being cut from the state’s healthcare funding.

“We certainly don’t need redundant taxes to offset this federal reduction,” said Joffe.

Voters in Santa Clara County passed a similar ballot measure last year to offset the county’s own federal cuts that will go into effect in April. Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen said last year he had a duty to determine “whether voters were deliberately misled” on what the sales tax would go to.

Gioia said the county needs to “not experience what Santa Clara did.” He pushed for the ordinance to include the requirement of an oversight committee to “ensure that the money is spent appropriately in a transparent way, accountable to the public.”

Supervisors will consider the ordinance at the Feb. 10 meeting.

Humanitarian of the Year Awardees honored

Supervisors honored two residents with the Federal D. Glover Adult Humanitarian Award and as the Student Humanitarian of the Year.

Elena Velazquez, a student at Summit Tamalpais High School-Hilltop in Richmond, and Gaby Ghorbani received the awards at the Tuesday meeting for their advocacy that “reflect the spirit” of Martin Luther King Jr.

“What I want more people to understand is to interpret democracy as something that we have, but something that we do. And democracy is something that anyone can do,” said Velazquez. “Take every opportunity to learn and to grow.”

Gioia said that Velazquez growing up in the eyes of the community “is such a great thing” because of her being a role model for others.

The youth awardee is a volunteer with the Bay Area Girls Club, The Latina Center and Urban Tilth, and served as president of the National Honor Society and a public relations officer for the Richmond Youth Council.

The adult awardee, Ghorbani, whose son received the honor in her place, is the founder of Pledge to Humanity. The organization says it “engages volunteers of all ages in meaningful, community-based service initiatives.” Since its founding, the organization has mobilized more than 100,000 volunteers.

“She’s kind of a superwoman, and she is so deserving of this recognition,” said Supervisor Candace Andersen, in part referring to Ghorbani saving someone’s life while on a plane that morning.