This story was updated to reflect the latest county election results. The final update is expected on June 12.
In the June 2 primary election, it appears that Contra Costa County voters rejected a sales tax increase to help fund healthcare initiatives. And they split the vote for a bond measure to fund community college facility upgrades. However, since the measure needed 55% to win, it appears to have failed.
The latest round of unofficial primary election results, released by the county on Wed., June 10, show Measure G, sponsored by the Contra Costa Community College District to raise $920 million in bonds to help improve their three campuses, actually received a handful of more “yes” votes — 153 to be exact.
It was intended to help fund improvements at Contra Costa, Diablo Valley and Los Medanos community colleges. With all 938 precincts reporting, only about 2,000 ballots remain to be counted. The next results update is expected on Friday, according to the Contra Costa elections office.
Measure B, which needed a majority vote to pass, would have raised Contra Costa’s sales tax by 0.625 of a cent. The sales tax in Richmond was to increase from 9.75% to 10.375%, or slightly more than 10 cents on every dollar of eligible taxable purchases. Under state law, the tax isn’t applied to food, housing or medical purchases.
If it had been approved, residents of El Cerrito and Pinole would of faced paying the highest sales tax in the county — 10.875%.
Measure G funds could help upgrade classrooms and facilities for programs such as science, nursing, and emergency response. It would also help fund costs to repair or replace outdated electrical, plumbing, and ventilation systems, as well as bring older buildings into compliance with earthquake, fire safety, and accessibility standards.
If passed, property owners in the district would pay additional property taxes to repay the bonds. The district estimates the highest annual tax-rate needed to repay this bond would be about $10 per $100,000 of assessed property value. The district so far has three outstanding bond measures with a combined tax rate of $14.20 per $100,000 of assessed value.
June 2 primary election
Full election results are here.
For more info.: Visit Richmondside’s voter guide or the Contra Costa County elections page.
The sales tax increase is for five years and would raise a projected $150 million per year. The money would officially go into the county’s general fund, but supporters say most of it would be spent on healthcare programs.
Safe & Healthy Contra Costa, which supports Measure B, says 93,000 people in Contra Costa County could lose healthcare coverage by 2029 under federal budget cuts being imposed by the Trump administration. They say those cuts could reduce federal contributions to Contra Costa health services by $1.5 billion over the next five years.
Supporters estimate that federal cuts as well as changes in Medi-Cal eligibility requirements could result in a loss of health insurance for more than 90,000 Contra Costa County residents.
On the website Stop Measure B opponents say the higher sales tax would “make everyday purchases more expensive across Contra Costa County.”
They note that the extra sales tax would take effect in October 2026 while the initial federal budget cuts aren’t slated to go into effect until January 2027.
In their ballot argument, Measure B opponents state that “Contra Costa County has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.”
They note that Contra Costa County employee salaries and benefits have risen 47% since 2020.
Thank you voters for rejecting these ridiculous taxes – I’m pleasantly surprised knowing the history of taxation in CC County – I’m ready for the Supreme Court to take on the unConstitutional ability of local governments here in the US to impose property taxes on property owners which were voted on by non property owners who don’t have to pay the taxes…BTW, bonds ARE taxes…but beware another huge tax is looming on the horizon…the PTB want to levy a 0.5% sales tax to bail out public transportation because it is not being used enough to support it’s existence here in the Bay Area – this measure will be on the November 2026 ballot