Robell: Don’t fall for old tricks to raise taxes with Measure A

Santa Clara County voters are being asked to approve Measure A, a sales tax hike that would push the rate to a staggering 10% — with the potential to reach 11% when combined with the transit tax that the county opted into for next year’s election.

This isn’t just a small bump in your tax bill — it could cost families hundreds, even thousands of dollars a year. And here’s the kicker: the county is spinning it as a necessary fix for our health care system. Don’t be fooled.

This measure is misleading, regressive and irresponsible. It’s being sold as a lifeline for struggling hospitals, but in reality, it’s just another blank check for county officials to spend however they want. Make no mistake — this is not a targeted health care tax. It’s a general sales tax, meaning the county can spend it on anything, from administrative salaries, pension and pet projects.

We’ve been down this road before. Remember the lottery? Voters were promised it would fund schools. Yeah, right. Measure A’s promises to save hospitals are no different. It sounds good on paper, but the math doesn’t add up. Even with this proposed tax, the money raised still won’t be enough to fix the county’s financial problems or “save” its hospitals. Residents should be angry about the barrage of dishonest, glossy flyers that scare people into believing hospital closures are only avoided by passing Measure A.

Here’s the truth: Measure A would generate an estimated $330 million annually, and it would come straight out of the pockets of families already struggling with high living costs. Sales taxes are inherently regressive, meaning they hit low- and middle-income households the hardest.

A sales tax is the wrong way to fund health care. It’s not a stable or equitable solution for funding essential services like hospitals. Take North County, for example, where residents already pay a special tax for the El Camino Hospital District. For them, Measure A would create a double burden: paying twice for the same service. How is that fair? This is just another example of the county passing the buck to residents without addressing the underlying issues in the health care system.

The county already collects more revenue as prices rise, so why the sudden need for a massive 500% increase to the general sales tax rate? A tax increase like this isn’t about responding to an emergency — it’s about shoring up a broken system. Over the last few years, the county’s hospital system has hemorrhaged money. Last year alone, the county hospital system lost $600 million — yet they decided to overextend themselves and buy another money-losing hospital this year for $150 million. Easy to spend other people’s money, right? Instead of addressing the root causes of this financial instability, they’re asking us to pay for their failure.

The lack of oversight on Measure A is another major red flag. There are no guarantees this new tax revenue will actually go where it’s needed. The Board of Supervisors could easily reallocate funds to whatever they deem necessary, leaving taxpayers with no accountability. This measure’s “temporary” label is another trick. We’ve seen how “temporary” taxes often become permanent, with future ballot measures offering to “extend” them — so don’t be surprised if you’re paying this tax for decades.

Why are taxpayers being asked to carry the load when county officials haven’t made any significant cuts to their own spending? County Executive James Williams earned $660,000 last year, while 25 other county employees made more than $900,000. In 2021, the county handed out $76 million in “hero” bonuses to its employees — including executives — regardless of merit. Meanwhile, the county spent $4.5 million a year on valet parking for county employees. These aren’t the kinds of priorities we should be supporting with even more tax money.

The county is rushing this measure to the ballot, claiming it’s an “emergency” response to federal cuts. But why isn’t every other county in California proposing similar taxes? Because this isn’t about losing federal funds — it’s about the county’s poor financial management and over-expansion of its services. The county should fix its own budget problems before asking taxpayers to foot the bill.

This isn’t about denying health care; it’s about demanding real reform. If the county wants more of our money, they need to show they’ve made responsible cuts, improved efficiency and stopped wasting taxpayer dollars. We, the voters, are not an ATM for government mismanagement.

Say no to Measure A. Say no to unaccountable tax hikes and political games. Let’s demand real change before signing up for more taxes.

Christopher Robell is a retired CFO and member of the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association. He was a co-plaintiff in a lawsuit earlier this year that sought to stop Measure A from appearing on the ballot.