In today’s primary election, Contra Costa County voters are considering a measure to increase the countywide sales tax to help fund healthcare programs and other county services.
Check back after the polls close at 8 p.m. tonight to see if Measure B was approved. It needs a simple majority to pass.
Measure B would raise Contra Costa’s sales tax by 0.625 of a cent. The sales tax in Richmond would 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’s approved, residents of El Cerrito and Pinole could end up paying the highest sales tax in the county — 10.875%.
June 2 primary election
Here’s where to find a list of ballot drop-off boxes and polling places.
Polls will be open until 8 p.m. tonight.
For more info.: Visit Richmondside’s voter guide or the Contra Costa County elections page.
Check back for live election results tonight.
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.
