"County leaders chiefly characterized the five-eighths-cent sales tax increase, known as Measure A, as a lifeline for their massive public hospital system, which they warned was at risk of falling apart amid unprecedented federal spending cuts under President Donald Trump. But county law enforcement officials and workers only endorsed the tax after saying they gained assurances from the county that their budgets would get a portion of the funds."
"On Monday, County Executive James Williams told this news organization he would recommend the Board of Supervisors put all Measure A dollars toward offsetting federal health care cuts. That recommendation isn't final - and still needs approval from the county's elected officials. "With full transparency and oversight, the public will be able to see exactly how every dollar is spent as we continue to strengthen and protect access to care for everyone in our community," Williams told San José Spotlight."
Measure A, a five-eighths-cent sales tax increase, passed with 57% of voters on Nov. 4, raising some cities' sales tax rates to 10% or higher. County leaders presented the measure as essential to support the public hospital system facing federal spending cuts. Law enforcement officials and workers endorsed the tax after receiving assurances that their budgets would receive a portion of the revenue. County Executive James Williams said he would recommend directing all Measure A dollars toward offsetting federal health care cuts, subject to Board of Supervisors approval. District Attorney Jeff Rosen said those assurances appear questionable and signaled a possible investigation into whether voters were deliberately misled.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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