Santa Clara County seeks a five-eighths cent sales tax increase, Measure A, to support its public hospital system. Local libertarians filed a lawsuit challenging placement of the measure on the Nov. 4 special election ballot and arguing that federal spending cuts do not constitute the emergency required for a non-general election vote. The lawsuit asks for removal of references to President Trump and claims that Measure A is a general tax that provides no dedicated funding to health care. County officials maintain the revenue will support the hospital system, which comprises a large share of operating costs.
A judge next Wednesday could decide the fate of the county's proposed five-eighths cent sales tax increase, known as Measure A, after local libertarians filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of placing it on the Nov. 4 special election ballot. The lawsuit argues federal spending cuts - which county leaders warn could devastate California's second largest public hospital system - don't constitute an emergency allowing for a sales tax vote on a non-general election year.
"Measure A would provide no dedicated funding to health care, let alone hospitals," the lawsuit reads, referring to the county proposal's status as a "general tax." A general tax requires a lower voter approval threshold than a "special tax," which would limit spending of the new revenue to health care. County officials insist the money will go to the hospital system since it's a bulk of their operating expenses.
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