"Bracing for a budget shortfall blamed largely on federal cuts, Contra Costa County voters could be asked to help mitigate any financial impacts with a ballot measure this June that would raise the county's sales tax rate and generate about $150 million annually. County officials are likely to place a 0.625% general retail sales and use tax measure on the June 2 ballot. If passed with a simple majority, it would raise the county's current rate of 8.75%."
"If approved, the new tax revenue would be used to help plug an estimated $307 million budget gap Contra Costa Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax warned during a January meeting the county could face in the near future due to a Republican passed budget bill, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Officials said the new general fund revenue would not likely backfill all that the county stands to lose, but the money would be vital for preserving health care programming."
"Supervisor John Gioia noted about a third of county residents are on Medi-Cal, California's version of Medicaid which was cut by nearly $1 trillion over a 10-year period. The reality is there are people who will be seeing significant gaps in services they potentially need if we are not able to figure out how to adjust the revenue for at least the next few years and until we get it stabilized, Andersen said."
Contra Costa County faces a budget shortfall blamed largely on federal cuts and a projected $18 billion state deficit for the 2026-27 fiscal cycle. Supervisors voted unanimously to place a 0.625% general retail sales and use tax on the June 2 ballot. If approved by a simple majority, the measure would raise the county's sales tax above 8.75% and generate about $150 million annually. County leaders expect the revenue to help close an estimated $307 million gap and preserve healthcare programming, though the new general fund income may not fully backfill anticipated losses from federal and state reductions.
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