San Mateo County considering a new tax to pay for childcare

"San Mateo County is polling residents about a potential half-cent sales tax on the November ballot that would raise $114 million a year for childcare. The tax would be used to lower costs for low- and middle-income families and to grow the childcare workforce, according to the poll by McGuire Research. Supervisors Jackie Speier and Lisa Gauthier hosted four town halls throughout San Mateo County last fall to hear from parents and providers about childcare."

"The sales tax increase would bring the tax rate above 10% in most San Mateo County cities, including Belmont, East Palo Alto and Redwood City. The lowest tax rate would be 9.875% in cities such as San Carlos and Menlo Park. At the same time, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission is pursuing another half-cent sales tax to bail out Bay Area transit agencies like Caltrain and BART."

""People who have children should take care of them and not expect others to pay their bills" is one argument against. Other arguments against the tax refer to the increased cost of living, already high taxes and creating another wasteful countywide bureaucracy. One argument for the tax is that an inefficient childcare system has resulted in San Mateo County losing $775 million in economic productivity."

San Mateo County is polling residents about a potential half-cent sales tax on the November ballot that would raise $114 million a year for childcare. The tax would lower costs for low- and middle-income families and expand the childcare workforce. Supervisors Jackie Speier and Lisa Gauthier hosted town halls to hear from parents and providers, and supervisors withheld comment until polling concluded. Supervisor Noelia Corzo encouraged residents to complete the survey. The increase would push sales tax rates above 10% in most county cities, with a low of 9.875% in some. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is separately pursuing another half-cent tax for transit. The poll tested pro and con arguments, including concerns about costs, taxes, bureaucracy, and claims of $775 million in lost economic productivity due to an inefficient childcare system.

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