A dispute between workers and management over pay, benefits and working conditions could grind services in Santa Clara County to a halt — just as the nation is set to celebrate the labor movement’s contribution to American society. County workers are threatening to strike less than a week before Labor Day. The employees run the...

A new sales tax could bring additional funding to Santa Clara County, amid predictions of future revenue losses and budget threats. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday advanced a proposal from Supervisor Cindy Chavez for a 5/8-cent sales tax increase to provide funding for prioritized services such as health care, child care,...

Some elected leaders say gun laws can lead to trouble when equally applied to urban and rural areas – and that’s what Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese is trying to avoid. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved his proposal requiring safe storage for firearms in homes on unincorporated county land. The ordinance, which primarily aims...

In the wake of a shooting rampage in Gilroy that left three people dead, Santa Clara County law enforcement officials are ramping up security at public events — including the upcoming county fair and San Jose jazz festival. Sheriff’s deputies patrolling the fairgrounds in South San Jose when the 75th Annual Santa Clara County Fair...

Salaries and benefits at public agencies can be a contentious issue from who decides on raises to how many resources are divvied out between departments and how the public benefits from it all. But inside the various city halls around Silicon Valley, cities are facing their own challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining talent. Silicon...

Flames from last year’s destructive wildfires scorched away entire towns, shattered families and killed nearly a hundred people, shocking the nation as it stood by and watched California ablaze. As this year’s wildfire season arrives, Santa Clara County leaders announced Monday that they’re gearing up with $4 million in state funds to buy new technology...

It’s rush hour when a middle-aged man walking down East Santa Clara Street collapses with a stroke. A few minutes later, a firefighter trained as a paramedic gets on scene. The firefighter takes the patient’s vitals, gives him an IV and stabilizes him. But he can’t take the man to a hospital — only the county’s ambulance provider...

School districts in California don’t require homeowners who are eligible for a parcel tax exemption to renew it every year, which means seniors over the age of 65 and low-income or disabled homeowners don’t have to reapply to continue getting a tax break. But California law only allows school districts to grant exemptions — not...

After a week of budget hearings, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve the hefty $8.1 billion budget, funding projects that prioritize strengthening existing programs and services as the county prepares for an economic downturn. The budget from County Executive Jeff Smith, approved by the Board of Supervisors Friday, focused on...

Hundreds of union members poured out in front of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors’ chambers Wednesday in the blistering heat, rallying for an increase in wages and services for county workers as the supervisors inside deliberated on next year’s funding priorities during a budget hearing. Union leaders from SEIU Local 521 advocated for...