By Denise P. Kalm, Contra Costa Taxpayers Association
Little more than five years after raising our sales taxes, the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors is going back to the well. On Tuesday, they voted unanimously to move forward with another sales tax increase, further increasing the costs of everyday essentials and making the County even more unaffordable for seniors and working families alike. (See related article)
Although Supervisors express pride over how 2020 Measure X sales tax revenue was spent, many of us question whether the money is going to core government functions. A recent oversight report listed these Measure X funded projects: Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Democracy Initiative, African American Holistic Wellness Center & Resource Hub and a Guaranteed Income Pilot. While many readers may agree with these projects, many taxpayers do not, and so they should be privately funded.
As the accompanying graph shows, County revenues have risen sharply in recent years with the passage of the Measure X and increased federal grants to County programs. When I quoted statistics from this graph, Supervisors questioned my accuracy, so let me assure them that the numbers come from the County’s own audited financial reports and budget.
Source: CoCoTax
A large share of the increase relates to Medi-Cal, a federal/state program that funds healthcare for low-income residents. Contra Costa County has aggressively involved itself in Medi-Cal, creating a pioneering Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan to provide care to Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
Between 2020 and 2025, the cost of Contra Costa County’s Medi-Cal Plan surged 157% from less than $900 million to almost $2.3 billion. A major contributor to this growth was the decision to extend Medi-Cal benefits to adult undocumented immigrants. According to state data, over 30,000 undocumented Contra Costa adults were receiving free healthcare through Medi-Cal last year.
Until recently, this was not a financial problem for the county because it was able to shift the cost onto the state and federal governments. But now this is becoming more difficult with Congressional Republicans, the Trump Administration and even the state government restricting reimbursements for undocumented immigrant coverage.
To continue growing this program, the Supervisors are now looking to residents to cover the tab by adding 0.625% to our sales taxes Countywide.
I realize that neighbors have a variety of views about immigration. Personally, I think the US should allow more of the talented people we need as well as a program to allow temporary, migrant workers to come here, which might go to support their request to immigrate here legally.
While I am for legal immigration, I do not agree that local communities should be on the hook to provide free medical care to anyone who comes here and completes an application. That policy is unsustainable, and unfair to the rest of us who pay a lot of money for healthcare. There are hundreds of millions of people around the world who would love to come to northern California and not have to worry about our high cost of living, including our high healthcare costs.
While I think we should welcome new neighbors, we should expect them to either shoulder the costs of living here or find friends, relatives, and charitable organizations that will help them do so.
Finally, the pro-tax side may portray your yes vote as a way to resist Trump and DC Republicans. But I urge you to hold two opinions simultaneously that may seem contradictory yet aren’t: you can hate the Administration’s hostile treatment of immigrants while also believing that local government should be fiscally responsible. We have to manage our budgets carefully; those taking our tax money should be just as responsible.
If Supervisors are able to pass this sales tax in 2026 by a wide margin, there is every reason to think that they will come back for even more taxes in the years ahead with cities following them. We already know that a transit sales tax increase of 0.5% is likely to be on the November ballot, another case of failing to manage BART and AC Transit money prudently. So, I hope you’ll vote no in June, talk to your friends, and consider volunteering with our group to oppose this measure.
For more information about the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association visit www.cocotax.org.
To pay for healthcare costs, offsetting cuts in federal budget
If passed, Antioch’s sales tax rate would increase 0.625% to over 10%
By Allen D. Payton
During their regular, weekly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors decided to tell the taxpayers that they love our money by giving an early Valentine’s Day gift of a 5/8-cent sales tax increase measure on the June ballot. As a general tax, a simple majority of voters will have to give it their support in order to pass. If they do, it will generate an estimated $150 million per year for five years for a total of $750 million, intended to pay for healthcare for county residents impacted by federal budget cuts.
To adopt the sales tax ordinance a 4/5 vote of the Board was required but it passed unanimously. According to the proposed “2026 Retail Transactions (Sales) and Use Tax Ordinance”, all of the proceeds from the tax will be placed in the County’s general fund and used for purposes consistent with general fund expenditures of the County.
Screenshot of Board of Supervisors 5-0 vote on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, to adopt resolution placing sales tax increase on the June 2026 ballot.
Timeline to the Supes Vote
In the staff presentation for the proposed ordinance, the supervisors were provided with the timeline of events that led up to their vote: On November 18, 2025, the County Administrator’s Office offered a presentation on the State Budget and impacts of H.R.1, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump which cuts healthcare expenditures. Then, on December 16th, the Health, Employment and Human Services departments provided an in-depth presentation on federal and state financial impacts. That was followed on January 20th by Board direction for seeking legislation allowing for an additional 0.625% general sales tax and development of a related taxing ordinance for a period of five years. Finally, during last Tuesday, February 3rd’s Board Retreat, presentations from Beacon Economics, the County Finance Director, California Welfare Director’s Association (CWDA) and the California Association of Public Hospitals & Health Systems (CAPH) were made to the Board.
Projected Sales Tax Levels by City
If the measure passes, the amount of sales tax collected in each city in the county will increase by 0.625% or 62.5 cents for each $100 spent on taxable items. The presentation shows the sales tax increase would cause 15 of the 19 cities in the county to be above the local sales tax cap, including the tax cap changes from SB1349. That law, passed in 2020, allowed Contra Costa County to impose a sales tax of up to 0.5% for transportation projects, which is exempt from the state’s 2% cap. According to an April 2025 Issue Brief on Sales and Use Tax by the California State Association of Counties, “Today, the statewide sales tax rate on eligible taxable goods is 7.25%.”
Some components of the state rate go to various local revenue funds.”
In addition, “Cities may impose a rate of up to one percent (1%).”
In California, the local sales tax cap is generally set at 3.5% above the 6% state sales tax rate for a total of 9.5%.
Following is the list of the new sales tax amounts by city if the county measure passes:
Source: Contra Costa County
The cities with the highest current sales tax rates in the state are Alameda and Albany at 10.75%. With the proposed Contra Costa sales tax increase, El Cerrito and Pinole would have the highest sales tax rate in both the county and state at 10.875%. Antioch would have the second highest in the county at 10.375%. That does not include other sales taxes that may be passed in 2026 including the regional transit tax slated for the November 2026 ballot, which would be an additional 0.5% Countywide. (See related article)
Gioia Offers Comments on Facebook, in TV Interview
In a post by John Gioia on his Facebook page, today, Feb. 11th, he shared a video of his comments during a KTVU FOX2 interview “about why a unanimous bi-partisan Board of Supervisors is placing a 5/8 cent temporary 5-year sales tax on this June’s ballot to protect our county’s hard working families from Trump’s devastating health, human services and food assistance cuts.”
“The average Contra Costan would pay about $10 per month to prevent over 50,000 people from losing healthcare and crowding emergency rooms that we all use and protecting emergency response times,” he added.
Resolution Details
The Resolution adopted by the Board includes the following clauses, “On July 4, 2025, the President signed H.R. 1, which enacted the deepest cuts in our country’s history to Medicaid and the federal food assistance programs;
“Medicaid and Medicare are the largest sources of revenue for the County’s public health and hospital/clinic system, which provide lifesaving and essential care to county residents, including Medi-Cal beneficiaries, Medicare recipients, and uninsured residents.
“H.R. 1 immediately freezes supplemental Medicaid funding and blocks the County from drawing down expected supplemental payments, producing escalating negative impacts on the County’s budget, while simultaneously making significant eligibility changes which will cause thousands of county residents to lose health coverage;
“Lack of health coverage often causes people to delay medical care resulting in sicker residents and will increase demand for emergency care sought by residents no longer able to access preventative healthcare after losing insurance coverage;
“More than 335,000 County residents rely on Medi-Cal for their health care, and the County is the primary health-care provider for this population;
“H.R. 1 also makes substantial reductions to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), limiting food assistance relied upon by approximately 110,000 county residents;
“As a result of the federal funding cuts and rising costs, the County projects annual revenue losses exceeding $300 million by 2029;
“The combination of decreased federal funding with the increased demands on the County’s healthcare and social services threatens ALL County services, from public safety to homeless services;
“An additional five-eighths of one cent countywide general transaction and use tax (sales tax) would generate an estimated $150 million annually for five years…”
Adopted Proposed Ballot Measure Language
The resolution also includes the proposed ballot measure language pending approval by the County Clerk’s Office:
“To help Contra Costa County address deep cuts in federal funding; support critical local services such as health care, supplemental food assistance, and other general county services; and reduce the risk of closures at Contra Costa’s regional hospital and health clinics, shall Contra Costa County adopt a five-eighths of one cent general sales tax for 5 years, providing an estimated $150,000,000 annually, not available to the federal government and subject to annual audits and independent citizens oversight?”
The primary election will be held Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Includes statewide offices, Congress, State Assembly, County Supervisor and others
Deadline: March 6 unless incumbent chooses to not run for re-election
By Dawn Kruger, Community and Media Relations Coordinator, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department
Today, Monday, February 9, the Candidate Filing Period for the June 2, 2026, Statewide Direct Primary Election begins, and nomination papers will be available for candidates running for Statewide Constitutional offices, United States Representative in Congress, Member of the State Assembly, County offices and Superior Court Judges. The nomination period runs through 5:00 pm Friday, March 6, 2026, unless an incumbent chooses to not run for re-election. The deadline is then extended by five days to 5:00 pm Wednesday, March 11th.
Offices up for election include the statewide positions of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Insurance Commissioner and Board of Equalization, District 2. Plus, elections for the House of Representatives, State Assembly, Board of Supervisors, Districts 1 and 4, Assessor, Auditor-Controller, Clerk-Recorder, Treasurer-Tax Collector and County Superintendent of Schools will be held in June, as well.
Papers for offices that are up for election will be available at the Contra Costa Elections Office, located at 555 Escobar Street, Martinez. County Elections staff are working with the City Clerk in Richmond to help implement the electoral reform passed by the voters of Richmond in 2024 requiring candidates for City Council and Mayor to file with the City of Richmond and run in the Primary.
For further information on the primary election and key dates, go to www.contracostavote.gov
“Election activities for the 2026 Primary are ramping up in Contra Costa County,” said Kristin B. Connelly, Contra Costa Registrar of Voters. “Candidate filing is an important first step in the election process, and our Candidate Services team is prepared to guide prospective candidates through key deadlines, requirements, and resources as they consider running for public office.”
Interested candidates can schedule an appointment through email at candidate.services@vote.cccounty.us or by calling 925-335-7800. Walk-ins are accepted, but subject to the availability of staff. Appointments are available on weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Filing documents and information will be provided to interested constituents at their appointment. The process takes approximately 20 minutes.
Businesses, labor unions, civic foundations join effort for 5-county Nov. 2026 ballot measure to prevent threatened catastrophic transit service cuts, promote reliable, safe public transit
Includes Contra Costa; would generate about $1 billion per year
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA — The Connect Bay Area Transit committee today announced that it has already raised nearly $3 million to support a region-wide effort to qualify Connect Bay Area, a voter-proposed regional transportation funding measure, for the November 2026 ballot. With strong early financial backing secured, the campaign will now begin signature gathering while continuing to fundraise to qualify and pass a five-county sales tax to save public transit.
The five counties that would be included in the tax measure vote. Source: Connect Bay Area
About the Tax Measure
The measure if adopted would increase the sales tax in Contra Costa, Alameda San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties by a half cent and one cent in San Francisco County for 14 years. As previously reported, the measure would generate approximately $980 million annually across the five counties.
Revenue from the tax measure will benefit multiple transit agencies in the region including Tri Delta Transit, County Connection and WestCat, as well as AC Transit and BART which serve Contra Costa County residents.
Following is a county-by-county breakdown of the County Specific Dollars. It does not include money going to BART, Muni, AC Transit and Caltrain, or to regional improvements that aren’t designated by county, such as coordinated fare programs and accessibility improvements.
County Agencies:
Contra Costa County Transportation Authority (2.5%, $26.51M)
Alameda County Transportation Commission (1%, $10.26M)
San Mateo County Transit District (4.7%, $50M)
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (25.1%, $264.07M)
Small Operators:
Contra Costa County small operators (1.5%, $15.75M)
Alameda County small operators (0.5%, $5.25M)
SF Bay Ferry (0.7%, $7M)
Golden Gate Transit (0.1%, $1M)
Without new and sustainable operations funding, the Bay Area will face a true emergency:
● BART: Could shut down two of its five lines, reducing service from 4,500 trains per week to just 500, with trains running only hourly and no weekend service.
● AC Transit: Would reduce service by 37%, bringing operations down to just half of pre-pandemic levels.
● Muni: Would face 50% cuts to all bus and Metro lines, including elimination of entire neighborhood routes and San Francisco’s iconic historic trolleys and cable cars.
● Caltrain: Trains would run only once per hour, end service by 9 p.m. on weekdays, and eliminate all weekend service.
Transit agencies that will benefit by the revenue from the tax measure. Source: Connect Bay Area
The Connect Bay Area measure will support the future of public transportation in the Bay Area:
● Protect and improve service on BART, Muni, Caltrain, SamTrans, VTA and AC Transit
● Prevent catastrophic service cuts that could devastate the Bay Area
● Keep traffic and emissions down, preventing gridlock and protecting climate progress;
● Support the Bay Area’s economy, ensuring that downtown recovery and regional mobility remain strong.
The Connect Bay Area Transit measure will include strong accountability provisions. This ensures new funding delivers real improvements, not just short-term fixes. Transit agencies must:
● Independent financial review and cost-efficiency: Operators will undergo a third-party financial review and be required to improve financial efficiency and use public funds wisely
● Better regional coordination to benefit riders: Operators will be required to comply with MTC’s Regional Network Management Policies to coordinate across systems and simplify fares and signage to create a more seamless experience for riders.
● Oversight Committee: An oversight committee will ensure that the expenditure plan is adhered to and hold MTC and operators accountable to all provisions of SB63.
About the Campaign
The campaign’s initial fundraising success reflects broad alignment across business, labor, philanthropy, and community leaders that a reliable, safe, and efficient public transportation system is vital to the future of the Bay Area. Major early donors include Chris Larsen, Herzog Contracting Corporation, Genentech, HNTB Corporation, Meta, and SEIU 1021. For a full list of donors, see below.
“Public transportation connects everyone. We are proud of the broad coalition uniting to prevent catastrophic service cuts and to build an affordable, safe, and efficient public transportation system,” said Jeff Cretan, a spokesperson for the Connect Bay Area Transit Committee. “The commitments we are seeing from business, labor, and civic leaders shows that everyone is ready to get this measure across the finish line in November.”
Connect Bay Area is a five-county regional tax measure designed to prevent catastrophic transit service cuts and provide reliable operating funding for major transit systems and local bus operators throughout the region. The measure also funds improvements to transit systems, capital projects within counties, and targeted road improvements. The measure is critical to supporting the Bay Area’s economy, promoting an affordable region, reducing traffic congestion, and ensuring access to jobs, schools, and healthcare.
Early financial support for the campaign includes commitments from:
Chris Larsen
Herzog Contracting Corporation
Genentech
HNTB Corporation
Meta
SEIU 1021
Jacobs
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
ATU Local 1555
PG&E
San Francisco Foundation
WSP
Golden State Warriors
AFSCME Local 3993
Boston Properties
Visa
AFSCME Council 57
T.Y. Lin
GILLIG
HDR, Inc.
Fehr & Peers
AFSCME 3916
Arup North America
Olson Remcho
Additional major employers, labor organizations, and philanthropic partners have indicated commitments that are expected to be finalized as the campaign continues to build momentum.
With signature gathering starting, the Connect Bay Area campaign will focus on qualifying the measure for the ballot while continuing to expand its coalition across the region. The Campaign must secure over 186,000 signatures from the five counties by June 6, 2026 to qualify for the November ballot.
The campaign’s early momentum comes as Bay Area transit agencies face an unprecedented funding crisis. Without a sustainable solution, public transportation in the the region could see devastating impacts, including:
BART could eliminate 2 full lines, stop service at 9pm on weekdays, and eliminate all weekend service.
Muni could eliminate entire routes, make 50% cuts to major bus and metro lines, gut historic train and cable car service.
Caltrain could cut weekday service to once an hour, stop service at 9pm on weekdays, and eliminate all weekend service.
AC Transit could cut up to 37% of overall service.
Recent polling on the proposed Connect Bay Area measure shows a clear path to passage, with strong support across counties and voter demographics. A survey conducted by EMC Research for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission found that 59% of Bay Area voters would support a proposed regional sales tax measure for public transportation. The threshold for passage for a signature-gathering initiative is 50%+1.
The Connect Bay Area Transit Committee is led by labor, business, and transit supporters, including the Bay Area Council, SEIU 1021, ATU 1555, SPUR, SAMCEDA, among others, as well as a broad advocacy council. The advocacy council includes more than 20 organizations including transit advocates, housing advocates, safe streets advocates, senior and disability advocates, and environmentalists. The Committee is focused on delivering a successful 2026 ballot measure that will strengthen public transportation to keep the Bay Area affordable for residents and support critical economic growth and climate resilience.
By Dawn Kruger, Community and Media Relations Coordinator, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department
Candidates can now collect signatures from registered voters in lieu of filing fees for the June 2, 2026 Primary Election. This part of the candidate filing process, known as Signatures-In-Lieu, began Friday, December 19th, and runs through February 4th.
State and County Candidates for Voter-Nominated offices may obtain forms from the Contra Costa County Elections Office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez for circulating petitions to secure Signatures-In-Lieu of all or part of the filing fee. Signatures may also be applied to the nomination signature requirements for the office. This is an optional filing process to assist candidates who wish to collect signatures to offset the filing fee to run for office in the June 2, 2026 Primary Election.
For further information on this Primary Election and key dates, go to www.contracostavote.gov
“Our office is ready for the start of the 2026 Primary Election Process which begins with the Signatures-in-Lieu period,” said Kristin B. Connelly, Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters. “We want to be sure that interested candidates in Contra Costa County are made aware of important dates as they prepare to run. This is especially important in light of recent redistricting changes for the United States House of Representatives because of the passage of Proposition 50.”
The nomination period for the June 2nd election opens February 9, 2026.
If you would like to speak to someone regarding candidate filling, please contact the Elections Office at (925) 335-7800 or via email at candidate.services@vote.cccounty.us.
5 Regional Early Voting Sites in Brentwood, Pittsburg, Richmond, San Ramon, Walnut Creek open today
Some polling places in Antioch have changed.
By Dawn Kruger Community and Media Relations Coordinator Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department
Regional Early Voting Sites open today, Friday, October 31st and polling places are open on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4th from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Voters can still return their ballots by mail, postmarked on or before Election Day – to ensure your mailed ballot is received on time, mail ballots before Election Day. Voters can drop their ballot off at one of the County’s 45 official drop boxes before 8:00 PM on Election Day, to ensure we receive your ballot on time.
“Voters have many opportunities to cast their ballot early,” said Kristin B. Connelly, the County’s Registrar of Voters. “The Contra Costa County Elections Office is here to ensure voters can cast their ballots safely, early, and conveniently to make sure their voices are heard.”
In-Person Voter Services
If you prefer to vote in-person or need in-person services to cast your ballot, Contra Costa County residents have early voting options at five Regional Early Voting sites throughout the county.
All Contra Costa registered voters will be able to vote at any of the Regional Early Voting locations, which will be open Friday, October 31st from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Saturday, November 1st from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; and Monday, November 3rd from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Here are the locations of Contra Costa’s Regional Early Voting sites:
Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak Street, Brentwood
Pittsburg Library-Community Room, 80 Power Avenue, Pittsburg
Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond
San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church, 902 Danville Boulevard, Alamo
Walnut Creek City Hall, 1666 North Main Street, Walnut Creek
Polling Places
Polling places will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4th from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Please go to our website and check “My Voting Information.” to find your assigned polling place. Please note that some polling places in Antioch, Bay Point, Lafayette, Pinole, Pittsburg, San Pablo, and San Ramon have changed.
Conditional Voter Registration
If you missed the voter registration deadline, you can still register and vote in-person using Conditional Voter Registration. It is a one-stop opportunity to register and cast your ballot and is available (1) at our office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez, (2) at Regional Early Voting sites, and (3) at all polling places.
Accessible Voting Equipment and Additional Language Access
Official ballots and voting instructions are provided in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Additional language resources are available through ballot translation guides which are available online and at in-person voting locations. Ballot marking equipment with accessible features is available at every in-person voting location for voters with disabilities who may need assistance.
Be Prepared
If you vote in person, many voters find it helpful to come prepared. Make your choice ahead of time and bring your pre-marked Sample Ballot to the polls to help you save time. Copies of the Voter Information Guide are available at the polls and the information is also available online.
Leave the Campaign T-Shirts, Buttons, and Hats at Home
Please remember that voters have the right to cast a ballot free from intimidation or distraction. Under California law, electioneering is prohibited within 100 feet of any voting location. Anyone wearing items promoting any position in this election will be asked to remove or cover them while they are at the voting location. Please help our poll workers by refraining from electioneering and leave your campaign t-shirts, buttons and hats at home.
For more information on voting options for the Statewide Special Election, visit www.contracostavote.gov or call 925.335.7800.
Five-county half-centsales tax would include Contra Costa County, last 14 years; in addition to existing half-cent BART operations sales tax
By John Goodwin, Assistant Director of Communications & Rebecca Long, Director, Legislation & Public Affairs, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday, October 13, 2025, signed into law state Senate Bill 63, authorizing a November 2026 ballot measure to prevent major service cuts at BART and other Bay Area transit systems and to make improvements to transit affordability, accessibility and reliability in the region. The new law allows the measure to be placed on the ballot either through action by a newly formed Public Transit Revenue Measure District governed by the same board as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) or via a citizen’s initiative.
The half-cent sales tax would be in addition to the half-cent sales tax for BART operations in Contra Costa, Alameda and San Francisco counties in place since the 1960’s.
Enactment of the bill — authored by state senators Scott Wiener (D-11) of San Francisco and Jesse Arreguín (D-7) of Berkeley, and co-authored by Sen. Laura Richardson of Los Angeles County and Assemblymembers Mia Bonta (D-18) of Alameda County and Matt Haney (D-17) and Catherine Stefani (D-19) of San Francisco — clears the way for voters in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties to consider a 14-year regional transportation sales tax that would generate approximately $980 million annually across the five counties. The bill authorizes voter consideration of a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and a one-cent sales tax in San Francisco.
Approximately 60 percent of the revenue that would be raised if voters approve the measure will be dedicated to preserving service on BART, Muni, Caltrain, AC Transit — which an independent analysis confirmed face annual deficits of more than $800 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027-28 — as well as San Francisco Bay Ferry and smaller transit agencies providing service in the five counties to keep buses, trains and ferries moving. About one-third of the revenue would go to Contra Costa Transportation Authority, Santa Clara VTA, SamTrans and the Alameda County Transportation Commission, with flexibility to use funds for transit capital, operations, or road paving projects on roads with regular bus service.
If a regional tax measure wins voters’ approval next fall, about 4.5 percent, equivalent to $43 million in fiscal year 2027-28, will go toward improving the rider experience, funding priorities identified in the 2021 Bay Area Transit Transformation Action Plan.
“In addition to averting major service cuts for regional operators, MTC advocated for the measure to include dedicated funding to make Bay Area transit more affordable, reliable, and easy to use so that it becomes a system that will attract more riders,” noted Commission Chair and Pleasant Hill Mayor Sue Noack.
The suite of rider-focused improvements includes:
Free and reduced-fare transfers that could save multi-agency riders up to $1,500 per year and are estimated to increase transit ridership by some 30,000 trips per day.
Expansion of the Clipper START® program, which provides a 50% fare discount, to reach 100,000 additional low-income adults.
Improvements to accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities.
Transit-priority projects to make bus trips faster, and mapping and wayfinding improvements to make transit easier to use.
Bay Area transit riders take more than 1 million trips each day, with over 80 percent of these trips on Muni, BART, Caltrain or AC Transit. Riders include tens of thousands of students, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income residents who can’t afford to own a car. Clipper START customers accounted for nearly 400,000 transit trips across the region in August 2025 and the fare-discount program is growing at a rate of more than 20,000 customers each year.
SB 63 includes several oversight and accountability provisions to reassure voters their tax dollars will be used responsibly. These include establishing an independent oversight committee to ensure expenditures are consistent with the law. Membership will include at least one representative from each county in the Public Transit Revenue Measure District, appointed by each county’s board of supervisors.
The new law also requires BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit to undergo a two-phase independent third-party financial efficiency review overseen by its own oversight committee composed of four independent experts, four transit agency representatives, and an MTC Commissioner. MTC is responsible for procuring the third-party consultant to conduct the review and for staffing the Oversight Committee.
A maintenance-of-effort clause in SB 63 requires BART, Muni, Caltrain, AC Transit, Golden Gate Transit, SF Bay Ferry and the bus operators in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to maintain existing levels of funding for operating purposes if a 2026 tax measure is passed by voters. The legislature established this requirement to ensure the measure supplements, rather than replaces, current operations support, with provisions for exceptions that are subject to MTC approval.
To provide additional oversight regarding the quality of the transit service provided in each county participating in the measure, the legislation allows a county transportation agency or board of supervisors within the District’s geography to require review by an ad-hoc adjudication committee if they believe a transit agency funded by that county’s portion of the measure’s revenue is not applying standards (such as service levels, fare policy, cleanliness, maintenance, access and safety) consistently across counties or if those standards disproportionately disadvantage service or transit equipment/station quality in that county. The committee is composed solely of representatives from counties contributing revenue measure funds to the transit agency under review. Its determinations are binding and may result in withholding up to 7 percent of the transit agency’s funds, a strong incentive for agencies to deliver high quality service that follows consistent standards across all five counties.
What Local Transportation Officials are Saying:
“The BART Board of Directors supported SB 63 because it will cover a significant portion of BART’s operating deficit caused by remote work and will allow us to maintain current service levels and improve the rider experience,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers.
“SB 63 is a step towards protecting essential Muni service and will equip us with resources to continue meeting the needs of San Francisco and the growing region,” said Julie Kirschbaum, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Director of Transportation.
“Through Governor Newsom’s leadership and the support of voters, SB 63 will help protect transit for our more than three million monthly riders. In fact, this summer, we took proactive steps to preserve service by redesigning 103 bus lines through our new Realign network. Designed over two years, this all-new network maintains service at 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels. SB 63 gives voters a chance to ensure that these vital bus lines – and our riders’ lifelines – are protected for the future,” said AC Transit Board President Diane Shaw.
“Caltrain has been reinvented as a state-of-the-art rail system, delivering the best service this corridor has seen in its 161-year history. We are seeing the benefits every day with growing ridership, cleaner air, quieter trains, and less-congested roads. To sustain these benefits, it is essential that Caltrain be funded. We are deeply grateful to Governor Newsom and the California Legislature for their leadership in crafting and supporting this legislation, which gives voters the opportunity to consider the vital Connect Bay Area measure in November 2026,” said Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard.
“SB 63 represents a transformative opportunity to invest in the future of public transit,” she said. With this measure, we can deliver faster, more frequent service and ensure better connections for all riders across Santa Clara County,” said Carolyn Gonot, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority General Manager and CEO.
“We’re excited the Connect Bay Area Act is moving forward and voters will soon have the opportunity to shape the future of public transit along the Peninsula and surrounding Bay Area communities. Next November’s vote will be a pivotal moment to secure reliable, connected and sustainable transportation. With this measure, we can ensure SamTrans, Caltrain and our regional transit partners have the stable funding needed to serve riders for years to come,” said SamTrans Board of Directors Chair Jeff Gee.
MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.
BART Issues Statement of Support
BART issued the following statement on Governor’s signing transit funding measure SB 63:
“BART is grateful to Governor Newsom for signing Senate Bill (SB) 63 into law. The Governor has been a steadfast advocate of transit and BART specifically, recognizing our role in moving the region and strengthening the economy. SB 63 is a historic opportunity to allow voters in five counties of the Bay Area to consider a sales tax measure in November 2026 aimed at preserving and improving transit.
A regional transportation funding measure would provide a reliable funding source for BART and other agencies to address deficits caused by remote work. The BART Board of Directors supported SB 63 because it will cover a significant portion of BART’s operating deficit and allow us to maintain current service levels and improve the rider experience.
Before measure funds become available, BART will rely on internal cuts, efficiency measures, and a series of one-time solutions to pay for operations. BART will continue to identify additional cost savings and efficiencies to address our deficit, and we welcome the enhanced accountability measures and financial efficiency review included in SB 63.
BART is also grateful to Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguín for championing this legislation and their fierce advocacy for transit funding.”
2021 Houston, Texas area Congressional District maps that the state was sued over by the Biden Administration DOJ. Source:Mark Meuser on X
“To put Proposition 50 on the ballot for the voters of California to decide, the California legislature had to violate the California Constitution multiple times.”
By Mark Meuser, Attorney
I am tired of hearing that California is redistricting to combat President Trump and Texas redistricting efforts. Texas was forced to redistrict because the Biden DOJ sued Galveston County and lost which changed the law thus making four Texas Congressional Districts unconstitutional.
When Texas drew its congressional districts in 2021, they created four congressional districts where they combined two minority communities to create a minority-majority district (Coalition minority districts).
On March 24, 2022, the Biden DOJ sued Galveston County Commissioners because Galveston did not draw a coalition minority district for the Black and Latino population.
On October 13, 2023, a Federal Judge agreed with Biden’s DOJ and found that Galveston County was required to draw a Commissioner seat by combining two minority communities.
On November 10, 2023, a three Judge panel of the 5th Circuit found that combining two minority groups to create a minority-majority district was unconstitutional and thus asked for an en banc panel to review the issue to overturn prior precedents.
On Aug. 1, 2024, the en banc panel of the Fifth Circuit concluded “that coalition claims do not comport with Section 2’s statutory language or with Supreme Court cases interpreting Section 2.” The Fifth Circuit ruled coalition minority districts are unconstitutional.
On July 7, 2025, President Trump’s DOJ sent a letter to Texas highlighting the 5th Circuit Order, pointing out that there are four coalition minority congressional districts that are now unconstitutional and that Texas needed to fix the problem.
Texas Houston area Congressional District maps 2021 (left) and 2025 (right). Source: State of Texas
Texas made a prudent choice to redraw the congressional districts so as to save their taxpayers the expense of litigating the losing case of defending minority coalition districts.
Texas did not have to redraw four minority coalitions districts because of President Trump. Texas had to redraw the lines because Biden sued Galveston County and the law was clarified that coalition minority districts were unconstitutional.
It is important to understand that the 2021 lines drawn by the California Independent Redistricting Commission have never been challenged in Court as unconstitutional because districts were drawn to create coalition minority districts.
Since Texas law requires that the Texas legislature draw the congressional districts, the Texas legislature followed the law.
However, the California Constitution prohibits the California legislature from drawing congressional districts and instead places that responsibility on the Independent Redistricting Commission.
To put Proposition 50 on the ballot for the voters of California to decide, the California legislature had to violate the California Constitution multiple times.
Under Proposition 50, five Republican-held congressional districts would shift to become more Democratic, based on presidential election results from 2024. Kamala Harris (D) would have won three—District 1, District 3, and District 41—with margins above 10%. District 48 would lean Democratic, with a margin of 3%. District 22 would have shifted four percentage points toward Democrats; however, Donald Trump (R) would have won the district with a margin of 2%. The table above provides additional information about these five districts. Source: Ballotpedia
The California legislature is asking the voters of California to forgive them for violating the California Constitution when they should have asked the voters for permission to draw the maps.
I was a part of two lawsuits filed before the California Supreme Court asking the Court to stop Proposition 50 before it went to the voters because the California legislature violated the California Constitution. Unfortunately, the California Supreme Court refused to require the California legislature to defend their unconstitutional acts and simply dismissed the Writ without even deciding the merits of the matter
While I am preparing the next lawsuit that will be filed, it is important that the voters of California stand up against the unconstitutional actions of Gavin Newsom and the California legislature by voting No on November 4th to Proposition 50.
The next time someone tells you that Newsom had to Gavinmander the State of California, remind them that the reason Texas had to redraw Congressional Districts is because Biden sued and lost which resulted in Texas having to redraw its lines.
Meuser practices election and constitutional law at the Dhillon Law Group.
